W. Edwards Deming
William Edwards Deming (1900-1993)
William Edwards Deming was born in Sioux City, Iowa, USA. He received a PhD at the Yale University, in Theoretical Physics.
After university, Deming worked in the Department of Agriculture for ten years. At the time, the yields in agriculture had made big progress due to a new science, modern Statistics. In addition, Deming gave lectures of Statistics at the Department of Agriculture for agricultural engineers.
In 1927, Deming was introduced to Walter A. Shewhart of the Bell Telephone Laboratories. Deming found great inspiration in the work of Shewhart, the originator of the concepts of statistical control of processes and the related technical tool of the control chart, as Deming began to move toward the application of statistical methods to industrial production and management. Shewhart’s idea of common and special causes of variation led directly to Deming’s theory of management. Deming saw that these ideas could be applied not only to manufacturing processes but also to the processes by which enterprises are led and managed. This key insight made possible his enormous influence on the economics of the industrialized world 25 years later.
In 1939, Deming joined the Bureau of the Census in Washington. Using his knowledge of Statistics to help in the development of a new kind of survey based on sampling. Later on the statistical techniques of the Census were adopted worldwide.
In 1946 he became consultant in Statistical Studies and Professor of Statistics at New York University.
During the Second World War, Deming stayed in Washington and used his knowledge for the service of the arms industry. Jointly with his friend Walter A. Shewhart, he organized management seminars at the Stanford University with the aim of improving productivity and the quality of military equipment. The seminars were attended by several thousands of engineers and managers from arm factories. Unfortunately, it had a limited impact because the senior executives did not commit themselves.
Deming in Japan
In 1947, Deming was sent to Tokyo as advisor to Allied Forces Headquarters on the application of his sampling techniques. While in Japan, Deming’s expertise in quality control techniques, combined with his involvement in Japanese society, led to his receiving an invitation from the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE).
JUSE members had studied Shewhart’s techniques, and as part of Japan’s reconstruction efforts, they sought an expert to teach statistical control. During June–August 1950, Deming trained hundreds of engineers, managers, and scholars in statistical process control (SPC) and concepts of quality. He also conducted at least one session for top management. Deming’s message to Japan’s chief executives: improving quality will reduce expenses while increasing productivity and market share.
A number of Japanese manufacturers applied his techniques widely. The improved quality combined with the lowered cost created worldwide demand for Japanese quality products.
Deming declined to receive royalties from the transcripts of his 1950 lectures, so JUSE’s board of directors established the Deming Prize (December 1950) to repay him for his friendship and kindness. The Deming Prize—especially the Deming Application Prize, which is given to companies—has exerted an immeasurable influence directly and indirectly on the development of quality control and quality management in Japan.
In 1960, the Prime Minister of Japan (Nobusuke Kishi), acting on behalf of Emperor Hirohito, awarded Dr. Deming Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class. The citation on the medal recognizes Deming’s contributions to Japan’s industrial rebirth and its worldwide success.
Back to the U.S.
In 1980, an American journalist, Clare Crawford-Mason, made Deming known by the public by a TV program called “If Japan can, why can’t we?” about the increasing industrial competition the United States was facing from Japan.
As a result of the broadcast, the American top management could not ignore Deming anymore. At the request of many senior managers, Deming started to give seminars open to the public. From 1981 to 1993, he gave 250 seminars. It has been stated that 120,000 people attended these seminars. He also gave many lectures in American companies, which had adopted his management philosophy.
Ford Motor Company was one of the first American corporations to seek help from Deming. In 1981, Ford’s sales were falling. Between 1979 and 1982, Ford had incurred $3 billion in losses. Deming to helped Ford by questioned the company’s culture and the way its managers operated. Deming talked about quality and management and told Ford that management actions were responsible for 85% of all problems. In 1986 Ford came out with a profitable line of cars. In a letter to Autoweek Magazine, Donald Petersen, then Ford Chairman, said, “We are moving toward building a quality culture at Ford and the many changes that have been taking place here have their roots directly in Dr. Deming’s teachings”. By 1986, Ford had become the most profitable American auto company.
Over the course of his career, Deming received dozens of academic awards, including another, honorary, Ph.D. from Oregon State University. In 1987 he was awarded the National Medal of Technology: “For his forceful promotion of statistical methodology, for his contributions to sampling theory, and for his advocacy to corporations and nations of a general management philosophy that has resulted in improved product quality.” In 1988, he received the Distinguished Career in Science award from the National Academy of Sciences.
In 1993, Dr. Deming published his final book, The New Economics for Industry, Government, and Education, which included the System of Profound Knowledge and the 14 Points for Management. It also contained educational concepts involving group-based teaching without grades, as well as management without individual merit or performance reviews.
In December 1993, W. Edwards Deming died in his sleep at the age of 93 in his Washington home at about 3 a.m. due to “natural causes.” His family was by his side when he died.
External Links
- The French Deming Association, http://www.fr-deming.org
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming
