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2.1 Deming's Message
Deming encouraged the Japanese to adopt a systematic approach to problem
solving, which later became known as the Deming or Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)
Cycle Fig.2.1. Deming, however, referred to it as the Shewhart Cycle, named
after his teacher W. A. Shewhart [1931]. He subsequently replaced
"Check" by
"Study", as that word reflects the actual meaning more accurately.
Therefore an
alternative abbreviation for the Deming Cycle is PDSA Cycle. Deming also
pushed
senior managers to become actively involved in their company's quality
improvement programmes. His greatest contribution to the Japanese is the
message
regarding a typical business system. It explains that the consumers are the
most
important part of a production line. Meeting and exceeding the customers'
requirements is the task that everyone within an organisation needs to
accomplish. Furthermore, the management system has to enable everyone to be
responsible for the quality of his output to his internal customers.
Fig 2.1 PDCA Cycle
Deming's thinking in the late 1980's can best be expressed as Management
by
Positive Co-operation. He talks about the New Climate (organisational
culture)
which consists of three elements.
- Joy in Work,
- Innovation, and
- Co-operation.
He has referred to this New Climate as 'Win: Win', as opposed to the 'I
Win:
You Lose' attitude engendered by competition. In his seminars in America in
the
80's, he spoke of the need for 'the total transformation of Western Style of
Management'. He produced his
14 Points
for
Management [Deming, 1989], in order to help people understand and implement
the
necessary transformation. Deming said that adoption of and action on the 14
points are a signal that management intend to stay in business. They apply to
both small and large organisations, and to service industries as well as to
manufacturing.
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