Re: Quality Progress Magazine Article (and 6 Sigma)

[John Hunter <deming@ilema.net>]

> Wouldn't you think that ASQ's monthly magazize would
> have enough sense/knowledge/staistical thinking to
> present data in a way that either supports or
> refutes their claim of a "dramatic drop"

No.

As we all know actually managing using Quality tools (Deming's ideas...) is much harder than complaining about the current system or talking a good game about what should be done.  Unfortunately, I find it common that organizations that are held out as examples of what should be done disappoint me every time (granted I am difficult to please).

To me this is related to my increasing support for 6 sigma (which seems to be counter to most of those posting to DEN).  I believe 6 simga offers the best current oportunity to deepen the understanding and application of Quality practices (such as control charts, DoE, PDCA [as DMAIC]...).  See my previous posts (many months ago) with more details on my thoughts on 6 sigma.  Maybe I am more willing to accept the weaknesses I see in 6 sigma since I have problems with any of the actual applications of management methods I have seen.

Does anyone know an organization that they honestly would be suprised by the equivalant of ASQ's actions?  I don't (maybe Toyota, Solectron?).  I liked what Marshall Industries was starting to do but...  What about FPL (and other Deming Award winners)?  I don't doubt that those organizations have many things that are going well but I would expect to see many failures to apply management principles as I would like.  But I have never closely examined a Deming Prize winner so maybe they are actually qualitatively different than others.

Sorry for my less than positive email.  On the other hand I think there are many, many examples of great things going on, though the good things are within a system that has many problems.


   John Hunter
   curiouscat.com