Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s Teachings Live on!

Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s Teachings Live on!

Note: I was compelled to write about my mentor and the privilege to meet one of his colleagues during the rise of the Quality Revolution which he started. 

"The Father of Quality"

Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a household name in Japan, became the prime catalyst behind the incredible success of Japanese industry. In fact, since 1951, the Deming Prize has been the most coveted and prestigious award among Japanese corporations, similar to the Malcolm Baldrige Award for quality in business in the United States. Today, Deming is finally becoming a household name in his own country. The lessons he has to teach American business are more urgent than ever. This blog promulgates Dr. Deming’s philosophy of “Control” in Process for “Continuous Improvement” and Safety. 

Just how different is the Deming Management Method? Compare just a few of the many differences in beliefs between conventional organizations and Deming organizations: 

Dr. Deming during Interview

Despite being considered something of a hero in Japan, he was only just beginning to win widespread recognition in the U.S. at the time of his death.President Reagan awarded the National Medal of Technology to Deming in 1987. He received in 1988 the Distinguished Career in Science award from the National Academy of Sciences. The Emperor of Japan recognized Dr. Deming's contributions by awarding him the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class for meritorious service.

Ms. Diane Ritter 

I am so privileged to have a colleague of Dr. Deming speaking at our Quality Assurance Tools Symposium at Walt Disney World this year. Ms. Ritter worked with Dr. Deming at Nashua Corporation in the hey day of the Japanese Quality culture change to dominate the U.S. car and electronics markets. Ms. Ritter began her career as a statistician working for companies that manufactured pharmaceuticals, copiers and computer. Starting in 1978 she was mentored by Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Deming urged Ms. Ritter and associate Michael Brassard, to create a book of tools.  GOAL/QPC took on the challenge of writing a book for all levels of workers to learn problem solving tools. That book, The Memory Jogger™, and it’s successor The Memory Jogger II™, went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide in seven languages. Diane and Michael’s more recent book, Sailing Through Six Sigma: How the Power of People Can Perfect Processes and Drive Down Costs, is being used by colleges, the American Society for Quality, and the United States Navy as one of their Six Sigma course textbooks. I am so privileged to have a colleague of Dr. Deming speaking at our Quality Assurance Tools Symposium at Walt Disney World this year. Ms. Ritter worked with Dr. Deming at Nashua Corporation in the hey day of the Japanese Quality culture change to dominate the U.S. car and electronics markets. 

Lobby of the Walt Disney Coronado Resort

Ms. Ritter began her career as a statistician working for companies that manufactured pharmaceuticals, copiers and computer. Starting in 1978 she was mentored by Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Deming urged Ms. Ritter and associate Michael Brassard, to create a book of tools.  GOAL/QPC took on the challenge of writing a book for all levels of workers to learn problem solving tools. That book, The Memory Jogger™, and it’s successor The Memory Jogger II™, went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide in seven languages. Diane and Michael’s more recent book, Sailing Through Six Sigma: How the Power of People Can Perfect Processes and Drive Down Costs, is being used by colleges, the American Society for Quality, and the United States Navy as one of their Six Sigma course textbooks.

Diane has always been on the cutting edge of the quality [r]evolution. From the factory floor to the Board room, she brings her passion for and expertise in, not only process improvement, but also strategic/Hoshin planning and creativity and innovation. Most recently Diane has: mentored a major fast-food leader and introduced the concepts and tools of continuous improvement at two Bakery Year End Conferences; conducted a blended-learning Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program for 10 teams at a major airline where the training and application of that learning to real problems netted the company over $1.1 million in savings; and facilitated the president and direct staff of an X-ray equipment manufacturing company in developing their strategic/Hoshin plan to increase revenues by 25% using quality improvement tools.

I can not emphasis enough how much your organization will profit from listening to her story. I am looking forward to asking her questions about Dr. Deming and his early work. 

Me and the Castle

D.Ritter’s:Presentation Title:

Deming, Quality & Joggers: Finding inspiration and leadership to do the right things right.

Synopsis:

The NBC White Paper in 1980 was a pivotal turning point for the United States, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, GOAL/QPC, and Diane Ritter. In this presentation, Diane will talk about Dr. Deming’s teachings and inspiration that gave purpose to a young entrepreneurial company and led to helping over 10 million people improve their work and their organization.

You need to sign up to come to Walt Disney World Sept 29, 2013. Here’s the information:

http://www.dtiatlanta.com/Symposium2013.html