Dr. Kano is best known for his contribution in development of “Attractive Quality Creation” popularly known as ‘Kano Model’ and widely used by manufacturing, service, and IT companies around the world for new product / service development. His other contributions are “Guide to TQM in Service Industries” (in English) and “Way to Breakthrough and Creation” (in Japanese)

Dr. Kano was invited for research, lecture, and consultation by domestic and overseas quality related organizations visiting over 80 countries. Dr. Kano is the most widely invited quality guru in the world. During such application research Dr. Kano has developed advanced tools for quality management and new application of current tools using latest methods of Information and communication Technologies (ICT)

Dr. Kano has the unique distinction for a quality guru to be a Board Director of Komatsu Ltd., a large multinational company from 2008 to 2014. Dr. Kano was also nominated as the Corporate Auditor of Sekisui Chemical Ltd. from 2003 to 2009. Dr. Kano has developed a unique perspective of Total Quality Management as a professor, consultant, and board director of business organization across multicultural societies across the world.

Dr. Kano started his voluntary contribution from 1964 as Lecturer in JUSE and subsequently many organizations in many countries. Dr. Kano played leadership role in Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) as Board Director since 2000, Japanese Society for Quality Control (JSQC) as President from 2000 to 2002, Asian Network for Quality (ANQ) as Chairperson from 2002 to 2004, Deming Application Prize Committee as Chairman from 2004 to 2007, The Selection Committee of Deming Prize for Individuals as Chairman since 2011,  and The Overseas Human Resources & Industry Development Association (AOTS) as Board Member from 2007 to 2012,  and AOTS Executive Program for Quality Management  as Dean since 2007. Besides many other committees.

For his contribution Dr. Kano has been recognized as Honorary Chairman of Asian Network for Quality (ANQ), Honorary Member of International Academy for Quality (IAQ), American Society for Quality (ASQ), Japanese Society for Quality Control (JSQC), Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) and twelve other societies. 

There have been three awards instituted in the name of Eponymous Noriaki Kano as ANQ Ishikawa-Kano Award in 2010, Kano Quality Award Established by Technological Promotion Association (TPA, Thailand) in 2009 and Kano Excellence Medal by Hamdan Bin Mohammed University, UAE.

Dr. Kano has been awarded 9 international awards including the 4 highest quality awards in each region of Japan, America, Europe and India such as 1997 Deming Prize for Individuals, 2009 ASQ Distinguished Service Medal, 2016 EOQ Presidential Georges Borel Award for International Achievements and 2008 ISQ Dronacharya Award.