Asserts the best way of drawing everyone′s attention to the subject of quality is to focus on costs. To do this effectively, the accounting process needs to be included in the quality improvement teams. Contends that accounting processes can link operating expense into bottom lines. Summarizes reasons for collecting costs in quality programmes. Discusses accounting for conformance and non‐conformance. Concludes costs are the most effective way of drawing attention to any situation; the role of accountants and their processes is to ensure that TQ facilitators adopt definitions of costs that are unambiguous. Asserts the impact on the profit and loss account can be measured using conventional accounting processes. In TQ programmes, accountants must take a new look at fixed and variable costs.