Am I on the right track?*

[David Kerridge <dfkerridge@mac.com>]

There are so many interesting points in John MacConnell's post, that
I hope we will not spend too long on the one aspect, variation. But I
cannot resist telling this story.

WED used to visit the UK once a year, to give his 4-day seminar.
Then he would spend the weekend at a small study group with us.

He did not want to talk, but to listen, and (he said) to learn. Perhaps
he wanted to see how our understanding was progressing.

So we would take turns to make a  short presentation. Often he said
nothing, but he always listened intently.

On one occasion, a speaker started to talk about "Reducing
variation". WED interrupted: "Why are you doing that?"

Speaker: "But - its what you told us to do."

WED:     "No I did not!!"

The poor speaker was baffled, and so were the rest of us.
Deming did not give any more explanation. Or perhaps,
having just given the 4-day seminar, he thought he had said
all there was to say.

So what was the point that WED was trying to make?

Having had 15 or more years to think about it, I have
my own ideas, but will leave it there for now.
--
Best wishes

David

dfkerridge@mac.com