{domain:"www.qualitydigest.com",server:"169.47.211.87"} Skip to main content

User account menu
Main navigation
  • Topics
    • Customer Care
    • FDA Compliance
    • Healthcare
    • Innovation
    • Lean
    • Management
    • Metrology
    • Operations
    • Risk Management
    • Six Sigma
    • Standards
    • Statistics
    • Supply Chain
    • Sustainability
    • Training
  • Videos/Webinars
    • All videos
    • Product Demos
    • Webinars
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Submit B2B Press Release
    • Write for us
  • Metrology Hub
  • Training
  • Subscribe
  • Log in
Mobile Menu
  • Home
  • Topics
    • 3D Metrology-CMSC
    • Customer Care
    • FDA Compliance
    • Healthcare
    • Innovation
    • Lean
    • Management
    • Metrology
    • Operations
    • Risk Management
    • Six Sigma
    • Standards
    • Statistics
    • Supply Chain
    • Sustainability
    • Training
  • Login / Subscribe
  • More...
    • All Features
    • All News
    • All Videos
    • Contact
    • Training

‘Which of Deming’s 14 Points Should I Start With?’

Answer: none of them

Davis Balestracci
Mon, 11/14/2016 - 14:51
  • Comment
  • RSS

Social Sharing block

  • Print
  • Add new comment
Body

Have you ever heard something like: “I’m committed to Dr. Deming’s approach [or Six Sigma or lean or TPS, it doesn’t matter], but executives don’t seem to listen anymore. All they do is keep interrupting my very clear explanations with, ‘Show me some results, then show me what to do.’ I was shocked that my demonstration of the red bead experiment neither awed nor convinced them; several of them even walked out during it. Which of Dr. Deming’s 14 Points should I start with to get their attention and the results they want?”

ADVERTISEMENT

My answer would indeed be: None of them—and all of them!

If anyone either continues to ask that question or is confused by my answer, please read this, then heed the following advice from Deming himself. Why? Because you don’t quite get his message.

 …

Want to continue?
Log in or create a FREE account.
Enter your username or email address
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
By logging in you agree to receive communication from Quality Digest. Privacy Policy.
Create a FREE account
Forgot My Password

Comments

Submitted by haefnerjjh01 on Tue, 11/15/2016 - 05:46

Deming's 14 Points

Right on Davis.  In the UW-Madison College of Engineering, one of my statistics professors knew that I came into the program with over 10 years applying SPC.  He asked, How many data points are needed to estimate limits?  Twenty-five, I quickly informed all of my classmates.  Professor Wu, then pointed out to the class that I was wrong.  The answer is two.  I went on to teach statistics in the College of Engineering and never forgot the lessons of Wu, Bisgaard, Ermer, and the most wonderful George Box who quoted Cole Porter's song lyrics Experiment.  "Experiment. . . And it will lead you to the light."  Simply put, use statistics to explore. 

  • Reply

Submitted by viregupta on Thu, 11/17/2016 - 19:50

In reply to Deming's 14 Points by haefnerjjh01

Data points needed to estimate limits!

The answer by the professor is two.

I do not quite understand this.

Can you pl enlighten me !

Regards and thanks

virendra

  • Reply

Submitted by haefnerjjh01 on Fri, 11/18/2016 - 04:03

In reply to Data points needed to estimate limits! by viregupta

Estimating Limits

Two data points provide a mean and a standard deviation.  While recognizing that they are a limited sample size, we still have a ballpark estimate of a process.  We move on from there.  Also, consider that with two data points we can conduct Monte Carlo simulations for whatever hypothesized distribution we may want to explore.  Claiming that an absolute number of data points is needed, say 25 or 30, before we can estimate control limits is the stuff statistical immaturity.  Needless to say, however, there are a lot of caveats that experienced statistician/engineers know how to conceptualize and act on.   

  • Reply

Add new comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
Please login to comment.
      

© 2025 Quality Digest. Copyright on content held by Quality Digest or by individual authors. Contact Quality Digest for reprint information.
“Quality Digest" is a trademark owned by Quality Circle Institute Inc.

footer
  • Home
  • Print QD: 1995-2008
  • Print QD: 2008-2009
  • Videos
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write for us
footer second menu
  • Subscribe to Quality Digest
  • About Us
  • Contact Us