DR. W. EDWARDS DEMING

Brief Introduction

• Born at October 14, 1900in Sioux City, Iowa• Deming received his electrical engineering degree from the

University of Wyoming and his Ph.D. in mathematical physics as well.

• Was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant.

• President Reagan awarded the National Medal of Technology to Deming in 1987. And in 1988, he received the Distinguished Career in Science award from the National Academy of Sciences.

Working • He worked for the Western Electric Company with Walter

A. Shewhart, the developer of the control chart.• Deming then worked with the U.S. • Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau.• Starting in 1950 he delivered a series of lectures to top

management in Japan on statistical process control. Japanese industry adopted his methods which resulted in a significant improvement in quality.

• Deming firmly believed that quality is the responsibility of the management.

• The Deming philosophy is summarized in the fourteen points.

• Developed better ways for continuous improvement.

• Third wave of the industrial revolution.• One of history’s nine hidden turning points.• His philosophy has rarely been practiced in its

fullness.

• Total Quality Management was a revolutionary concept developed by the American statistician, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a term now commonly referred to as TQM.

• “Zero Defect" production, concept of TQM.• The basic four cornerstones of Deming's TQM

include customer focus, continuous improvement, defect prevention and the importance of sharing quality responsibilities.

• Teamwork and team effort .

Deming’s 14 points

1. Create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and service

2. Adopt the new philosophy3. Cease dependence on inspection4. Move towards a single supplier for any one item5. Improve constantly and forever6. Institute training on the job7. Institute leadership

8. Drive out fear9. Break down barriers between departments10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the

work force11. Eliminate numerical quotas for the work force and

eliminate numerical goals for people in management12. Remove barriers that rob people of pride of

workmanship13. Encourage education and self-improvement for

everyone14. Take action to accomplish the transformation

These points "represent a philosophy, a logical, humane and pleasant way to get things done. Each of these points may sound reasonably straightforward, even simple in some cases, but each represents a change in the ways things are commonly done (especially) in the United States" (Dobyns et al, 1994)

While Deming's TQM ideas were hatched over sixty years ago, in today's global economy they are as vital and necessary as never before. Everything moves at a far faster pace than ever. Technology changes literally from day to day. So companies unwilling or unable to provide this coordinated TQM team effort may fall further and further behind their competitors.

Some Quotations and Concepts by Deming

• “There is no substitute for knowledge”• “In God we trust; all others must bring data”• “The most important things cannot be

measured”• “The most important things are unknown or

unknowable”• “Experience by itself teaches nothing”• “The problem is at the top; management is the

problem”

What Deming's TQM concept really establishes is organization of tasks and responsibilities. Everyone has to participate and cooperate for the system to work properly. Involvement of each employee is really to point out clearly and accurately the need and wants of the end customer. Perhaps one can even reduce Deming's ideas into three simple yet powerful words: people, products and profits

• Deming died at December 20, 1993 (aged 93) in Washington DC