Quality is Still Valid

How about all this quality stuff? I am regularly asked how, or worse, "if" the essential components of quality are applicable to service. In fact, I amazed at how often clients challenge the underlying elements of quality. The usual objections falls into one of these three categories of myth:

Myth Number 1: Quality principles were born in manufacturing; they have no relevance to service.
Myth Number 2: We are different.
Myth Number 3: We tried that "quality stuff." It didn't work for us.

To this I have the following responses:

Quality is based in manufacturing; it has no relevance to service. Naturally I beg to differ. In fact, I insist on differing. I can show that the essential elements of quality are applicable to all customer-centric issues.

We are different. No you are NOT! You are no more unique, different, complex, or have any special conditions that exempt you from the benefits that can be found in the fundamental concepts of quality than anyone else, regardless of the industry or customer niche you are serving. If it makes you feel better to say you are different, great. Go ahead and say it. Just don't believe it.

We tried that quality stuff and it didn't work. You didn't do it right!

I won't go into the second two issues, but bear with me while I discuss the first point.
-The basic model of any product or service is based on understanding DEMAND which allows us to DESIGN to meet that demand, and then we put that design into PRODUCTION
-The Value Chain model of manufacturing parallels this same model.
-The IT service model, not surprisingly, follows the exact same model with slightly different terminology.
Everything comes down to customer demand, design of service or product, and production (followed by support / maintenance, etc.). By definition, quality is defined by the customer. The principles of quality are then applicable to any and all products or services that meet a customer need.

Now again, what was the objection to quality?