Posted on 11/14/2025 11:01:12 AM PST by johnnygeneric
Learn about the man who transformed Japan and revolutionized the philosophy of quality.
This episode dives into Deming's System of Profound Knowledge, his holistic management philosophy designed for continuous improvement and long-term success.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtu.be ...
I read somewhere they put up a statue of him somewhere.
I attended a week long seminar in 1986 presented by Dr Deming.
It was fascinating not only for the quality improvement knowledge I gained but for also the sheer presence of the man. He was then a living legend in the quality improvement world.
And he was chased out of the USA by CEOs etc. who were not interested in anything that he had to say. The corporate leaders knew it all-what could he teach them!
Clearly our auto makers aren't interested in continuous improvement. Same for our educators.
As one who was a college professor for over 30 years, I could not agree with you more.
I saw that especially in committee meetings. When I chaired a committee, my colleagues volunteer to join. Why? I hate meetings-so we had a time to start, a time to adjourn, an agenda AND no extraneous BS. We finished meetings on time or early!
That's a good meeting template.
It’s funny. We must be coming into a recession.
When I see Demming being brought out again, I can almost hear the calls for “Better Customer Service means retention!” coming up next.
That usually happens when the current process isn’t working. Get out the TQM books!
I saw this in 1980, 1990, and 2002. In three different industries.
It worked in Japan mostly because of the Japanese culture. In the US it might seem to work by those that are stuck on power control of others and crayons to mark where everything should go. No individualism is allowed. All work stops to mark out where a pencil should be laid down.
Improve and simplify as you see it is fine but you will not make a profit if all you are doing is organizing.
Deming’s name is not well known in America, but for those of us in the quality profession (I was a quality engineer for the bulk of my career) he is revered the way Orville and Wilbur Wright are in aviation. The Japanese listened and learned from him long before the Americans were listening, and that gave Japan its chance to shine on the world stage.
He wasn’t the only national hero of Japan.
This guy, alone, prevented Japan from turning Communist in 1960.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Inejir%C5%8D_Asanuma
Deming reminds me of Walter Christie. Both were too bright for Americans to catch on to, but their ideas took root elsewhere.
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