W Edwards Deming

Immediately post second world war W Edwards Deming went to Japan to create order from the crisis that was the Japanese economy.

In Japan he found fertile ground for a set of ideas that had been around since the twenties.

"Quality doesn't cost, It pays"

What Deming taught the Japanese was largely common sense.

1. Make sure that people can take pride in what they do.

2. Make sure that you use the intelligence of the workforce.

3. Treat them like human beings.

By using a set of basic principles Deming began through his teaching to build quality into Japanese industry instead of having it as a post production bolt on. Deming was hugely influential in Japan but largely ignored in America until the airing of a TV programme in the 1980's called "If Japan can, why can't we?"

As he said in 1992, America was in more trouble than Japan had been at the end of the war because at least Japan had known how much trouble it was in, America did not.

Deming's teachings began to gain credibility in Europe not only for their common sense but for the demonstrable history of achievement that he brought from Japan.

Deming died in 1993 a disappointed man.He thought his teachings would be a virus that would take off on their own.He was frustrated that industry in Europe and North America was still largely ignoring what he knew to be true in their pursuit of traditional control and individual status.

In the UK today there is centred in Ampthill, Bedfordshire a forum called the Deming Forum.The locus is a group dedicated to the preservation of the Deming Legacy and the continued implementation of his ideas.

The forum use the same language that we have now become accustomed to.

"Deming feels instinctively right"

"You cannot change people but people can choose to change"

"Human capital is the most important capital"

"3% of problems have figures, 97% do not. It is people who count not the figures"

"Explain Gently"

"Everyone is a leader"

"Remove the barriers that stop people from being as good as they can be"

"Get rid of the Slogans"

Deming espouses a different way of working that is about people and developing people.

It is about understanding the relationships between the soft issues and the hard facts to transform the way that a business is run.

It is about reaping the huge financial and personal benefits when we give people the respect and support that as valuable individuals each member of the workforce deserves.

Remove the fear and measure the number of smiles on Monday morning.

Peter A Hunter
Author of "Breaking the Mould"
http://www.breakingthemould.co.uk

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Coaching Information:

Related Articles

Walt Disney, the Inspiration to Form a Better Life?
You, like many others, may have come to this article because you want more from life. In this sense, you and I may be alike because we're searching for greater happiness and a stronger sense of fulfillment.
Simple Tips to Move Forward on the Job
Someone I know wants to move into another job in the same company. It is not a management job.
Success Coaching - What Bill Gates and You Should Have In Common
He was just a teenager, but he was already displaying the powerful habits that would one day make him a billionaire.I had to dart down to Atlanta on Monday for a business meeting with a partner of mine and grabbed a new book to read on the plane.
Make a Decision and Take Action!
How are you progressing with the goals you set yourself this year?Have you made a start? Or are you still thinking about it or caught the very popular "I'm too busy" epidemic?Mary's StoryMary runs her own publishing company employing 5 people. She is married with two teenagers.
Cause and Effect! Choose a Path
Three steps to your Personal Transformation:Awareness and PerceptionLaw of Cause and EffectLaw of AccumulationThese categories are what you need to understand in order to be in total control of your being!Most go through life never reaching their potential because they never take control of all their faculties or abilities.This information is designed to help you gain complete control of your life!So lets get into it1) Awareness and perception.
Are You Addicted to Anger?
Michael was raised in a home where anger was used to control. His parents used their anger to attempt to control each other as well as their children.
The Value of Career Coaching and Its Effect on Productivity
Athletes the world over have coaches. Yet, workers whose very livelihood depends on their ability to perform well on the job are often unaware of the merits of a career coach.
Success: Cant Achieve It By Yourself? Pay A Professional!
So many people go through the motions of trying to achieve success. But just going through the motions doesn't work.
Permission To Have FUN
? Have you been working long hours? ? Have you been managing 10 (or more) tasks at once?? Are you combining several different personal and professional roles?99% of my clients are experts at managing lifestyles similar to those above and this issue is dedicated to all of you.Your reward for managing your lives so well is permission to have some FUN.
Theres Gold in that Silence
Can you recall a time where you utilized silence to make a point? If you can consciously recall, you probably know your silence made more than just a point; it made an exclamation point ..
Words That Inspire - PEACE
WORDS THAT INSPIREA monthly quick shot to motivate you, in less than 45 seconds, from Julie Cohen CoachingHow might your PEACE impact the world?Dictionary*says:State of tranquility or quiet, freedom from civil disturbance, a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war.What it REALLY means:The feeling of contentment with your life at present; your state of being when things feel comfortable, at ease, light; time in which you feel centered, calm and well.
Top Ten Things You Would Never Hear a Coach Say (or then again?!)
When coaching, it's all about the client, be that as a professional coach, or a line manager/business owner using coaching skills in their own business, with their own people. But it's so easy sometimes to turn the tables and be the client.
The Harvest: Shared Power
The fall harvest comes upon us once a year. The farmers collect the sometimes-scant rewards of their heroic efforts begun months before.
4 Amazing Tips To Successfully Persuade Anyone
Having excellent persuasion skills is one of the most important abilities to possess in today's fast-paced world. We need thesupport and cooperation of other people to help us in reachingour goals.
The Mid-Life Challenge: Make a Plan to Re-ignite Vocational Passion
Nobody will stop you in the hallway at work to ask if your career provides meaning and personal fulfillment. Recognizing that something's missing in your vocational life and taking the initiative to change must come from within.
The Problem with Blame? If You Fix the Blame, You Ignore the Problem
Have you ever found yourself in a hurry to leave the house for an appointment when you could not find your car keys?Imagine that you and a friend are in a hurry to leave for an important event. You turn over the couch cushions, rifle through the newspapers on the dining room table, search your previous day's pants pockets, and dig through your purse.
9 Guidelines For Spiritual Coaching
Spirituality coaching is more than creating goals and holding someone accountable. Spirituality coaching takes into account the whole person, that is, mind, body and spirit.
A Sure-Fire, 10-Step Formula To Get Started As A Coach Or Consultant
"My guess is first I'll need some zippy flyers and a tri-fold brochure" said an email from Matt last week. Sadly, he is not the only one thinking that the first step to building a professional business is printing fliers and brochures.
God, Grant Me Patience.....And, I Want It Now!!
Are you facing a difficult time in your life? Do you feel like a fish out of water? If today was a fish, would you want to throw it back in the river? If this is your situation, make no negative destructive decisions. Be Patient.
Build Your People Skills
How would you like to get along even better with others in your personal relationships and in the workplace? Getting along well with people sounds kind of general and is difficult to do much about, so let's break it down into some manageable and specific skills. By building the following skills, you will get along well with others:1.