W.

EDWARDS DEMING
ON TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

W. EDWARDS DEMING
OCTOBER 14, 1900 DECEMBER 20, 1993

American engineer, advisor, professor, author, and

consultant.
Founder of Total Quality Management

TQM
A management philosophy developed in
the mid-20th century by W. Edward Deming
and others who encouraged industrial
organizations to focus on the quality of
their products as their paramount mission.

KEY POINTS OF TQM

Alternative to demanding, top-down management

philosophies
Firmly based in analyzed data that identifies

problematic steps in a process.

Key to Demings philosophy: problematic processes,

not people, cause substandard products and

outcomes.

EDUCATION
Multiple degrees
BS in Electrical Engineering University of

Wyoming
MS in Mathematics and Physics University of

Colorado
PhD in Mathematics and Physics Yale University

EARLY CAREER
1927 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Mathematical physicist

1939 The US Census Bureau

Advisor in statistical sampling techniques

1946 The Economic and Scientific Section (Census

Bureau) sent Deming to Japan to study agricultural

production and related problems in the devastated country
after WWII

DEMING IN JAPAN
1947 called to Japan by the US

Occupational authorities to
Access the problems of nutrition and

housing in the devastated country

Prepare for the 1951 census
From 1950 1956 he made

multiple trips to Japan consulting

and teaching the application of
statistics to quality improvement.

DEMING IN JAPAN
1951 The Union of Japanese Scientists and

Engineers (JUSE) establishes the Deming Prize

1960 - Awarded the Second Order Medal of the
Sacred Treasure by the Emperor of Japan.

CONTRIBUTING AROUND THE WORLD

From 1952 1970 Deming consulted, lectured, and

taught his theories and teachings

Germany
Mexico
Turkey
London
China
Argentina

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

W. Edwards Deming began receiving national attention in the

US in 1980
Awards received:
Taylor Key award (American Management Association)
Samuel S Wilks Award (American Statistical Association)
National Medal of Technology (President Regan)
Distinguished Career in Science Award (National Academy of Sciences)

Recognitions:
Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
Inducted into the Science and Technology Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame

THE W. EDWARDS DEMING INSTITUTE

Founded in 1993
Committed to preserving

and continuing the

teachings and theories of
Deming to this new
generation
Host events and

conferences around the

country

THE FOURTEEN POINTS FOR MANAGEMENT

Key principals to improve the effectiveness of a

business or organization that appeared in W. Edwards

Demings book, Out of the Crisis.
2.Adopt the new philosophy. We are in a new economic age.
Western management must awaken to the challenge, must learn
their responsibilities, and take on leadership for change.
9.Break down barriers between departments.
13.Institute a vigorous program of education and selfimprovement.

PDSA CYCLE
A systematic series of
steps for gaining
valuable learning and
knowledge for the
continual improvement
of a product or process

PDSA CYCLE
Plan who, what, when, where are we testing?
Do develop aims and measures, implement

solutions
Study analyze and compare data to the plan and

goal
Act - standardize the solutions by making

system/process changes and plan for the future

THE SYSTEM OF PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE

The SoPK is a culmination of Demings life long work on quality,

management, and leadership into four areas:

Appreciation for a system view the organization as a
system where everyone gains
Knowledge of variation awareness of common cause and
special cause variation is key
Theory of knowledge constantly test theories and data to
fully understand what is happening to learn how to improve
the situation
Psychology PEOPLE, management is urged to create an
environment of trust, relationships, interdependence and pride
of workmanship

W. EDWARDS DEMING, THE MUSICIAN

Enjoyed playing the organ and composing music
Composed a version of the National Anthem,

allowing all the notes to be hit

Dont blame the singers if the song is written

poorly; instead rewrite the music.

- W. Edwards Deming