by W.Edwards Deming
Chris Lonsdale and Associates Review
W. Edwards Deming can rightly be called the Grandfather of the quality movement. Many of his ideas on quality are as valid today as when he first began teaching them. It's worth noting that when he first came up with his ideas for quality improvement, focusing on the properties of the production system rather than blaming individual workers for problems, he didn't get much of a hearing in the west. So, he took his ideas to Japan. There are many companies in Japan that can credit their phenomenal success to Deming's ideas.
Deming's approach is scientific and common sense at the same time. This book is full of both very rationale scientific principles, but it also has a very human face. Deming has 14 points which he insists are critical to business success, many of which would appear to go against mainstream thought. Just so you have a taste, some of his key principles are:
• Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality
• End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag alone. Instead, minimize total cost by working with a single supplier
• Break down barriers between staff areas
• Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force
These are just some of the ideas that, on the surface, may seem radical. To find out why they make sense, read Deming's work for yourself.
