W. Edward Deming
Edward Deming was an all around intelligent man. Not only did he receive a degree in mathematical physics from none other than Yale, be he created a whole new epidemic in the business world. Had Deming stayed in the United States to teach his plan of quality who knows how much the past would have differed. Perhaps America would be years and years ahead of all competition and be even more of an economic power. It’s impossible to determine what the outcome would have been, but I think the US is kicking themselves now every time they think about how they let Deming get away.
What interested me most about W. Edward Deming’s genius thought process is that it was so simple. Businesses are always trying to spend the least amount they can because everyone likes saving money, and who can blame them. By simply changing that thought, Deming was able to instill his idea of spend more money to make a high quality product, and in return have more profit because you’ll have loyal, satisfied customers. I liked when Deming referred back to before the industrial era with the blacksmiths, carpenters, and shoe makers and how they knew all their customers names. It’s so important to present a product the customer needs, and knows how to use, and when you know what the customer needs, you are able to study them and perhaps know what they might need next. It’s smart and efficient and it makes me wonder why we changed the way we did business all those years ago.
I’m not sure why the United States turned down Deming in the first place, but his ideas were great in the advancement for industry. It’s an amazing story how he came from poverty to become one ...