RE: Contributing to Your Organization

["Prevette, Steven S" <Steven_S_Prevette@rl.gov>]

This was a rather interesting DEN update, both in its size and variety of
threads.  There does seem to be a few current themes I would like to offer
thoughts on:

	Deming "utopia"
	Why so negative
	Six Sigma - fast food for the masses
	Viability of Deming's methods - why won't anyone play in our sandbox
	What should a person study to be "successful".

Primarily we are individuals in the DEN.  I do not believe there are many
members that are coworkers or part of larger organizations (for comparison,
IN2INTHINKING has many Boeing employees since it is Boeing sponsored).  No
one, to my knowledge, is a CEO of a large company, and I will attest that I
do not aspire to be a CEO of a large company.

But we are each "CEO's" of ourselves, of our own minds and bodies.
Personally, I find Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) a good book to read to affirm
or re-affirm that notion.  We can choose to work or not work, we can choose
which efforts to put heart and soul into ("brain engaged") and which efforts
to go through the motions to avoid bad outcomes (unemployment, for example).

I do not work in a Deming "utopia".  I can say several of the 14 points are
in place in several places, but certainly not all places or all points.
Very few people here know what the 14 points are.  But people beat a path to
my door, since I offer a good product (data retrieval, and if allowed to do
so, data analysis).  I do say "if allowed to" as some folks are very happy
that I can retrieve data from ponderous data bases, and want nothing to do
with control charts.  The use of SPC and the attendant management theories
ebb and flows.  Data retrieval and sound statistical principles are a good
bedrock for business.  (on the issue of what to study to be "successful", I
would say get a good overall background in engineering and statistics).

The new VP in my group made a pronouncement that "2 points will be a trend".
The interesting thing, it is now not just me working on educating the VP, my
current management is actively doing so.  We even worked up a set of charts
using the new "rule" to illustrate the absurd, unintended consequences of
such a statement.  So there is a network of people in this Deming non-utopia
who understand.  No one would come in and declare Fluor Hanford a "Deming"
company.  Not even its own management would call it that.  But in certain
pockets, we are doing "it".

On six sigma, I love the comparison of six sigma to fast food and Deming to
a "great chef".  (meant I suppose as a positive argument for six sigma).
Would you rather have 3 hour old reheated Big Macs at $50 each, or a gourmet
meal for $20 which includes a cooking lesson?

I'll put in a pitch for IN2INTHINKING - the April conference is on "Making a
Difference From Where We Are - Better Thinking for a Better Future" .  I am
one of those who has been challenged to make a presentation.  Should be fun
.  . .

Steve Prevette
Occupational Safety and Health
Fluor Hanford, A Fluor Global Services Company
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
steven_s_prevette@rl.gov
509-373-9371