Willowbend

Deming wrote: We shall learn from the theory in Chapter 11 that to hold a worker on the job without pay till he has cleaned up the defectives that were detected by inspection of his product, if he is in statistical control, is to charge him with faults of the system.

Deming wrote: A computer can be a blessing. It can also be a curse. Some people make good use of computers. Few people are aware, however, of the negative import of computers. Time and time again, in my experience, when I ask for data on inspection, to learn whether they indicate that the process is [...]

Deming wrote: “Our troubles lie entirely in the work force.” The supposition is prevalent the world over that there would be no problems in production or in service if only our production workers would do their jobs in the way that they were taught. Pleasant dreams. The workers are handicapped by the system, and the [...]

Deming wrote: Improvement of quality is a method, transferable to different problems and circumstances. It does not consist of cookbook procedures on file ready for specific application to this or that kind of product. It is not unusual for a consultant to receive an enquiry for examples of success in a a similar product line. [...]

Deming wrote: One of the main effects of evaluation of performance is nourishment of short-term thinking and short-time performance. A man must have something to show. His superior is forced into numerics. It is easy to count. Counts relieve management of the necessity to contrive a measure with meaning.

Deming wrote: Everyone in your company knows that the aim is perfection, that you can not tolerate defectives and mistakes. You make every worker responsible for the defectives that he has produced. Yet from the records that you have showed to me, it is obvious that you are tolerating a high proportion of defectives, and [...]

I’ve asked people if they’ve ever read Deming or had exposure to his methods or concepts. My Dad said, “The statistical guy?” Before studying Deming, my thoughts were the same. I think we all think that about Deming. I think at 107 years old, if alive today, Deming would be disappointed to be world famous [...]