Re: The % of red beads

["Dan Ford" <dan@electricdesert.com>]

Just a casual comment from a casual reader of the posts:

I think, in discussing the proportion of the red vs. white beads, the
original intention is lost: To identify the supply of the beads as the REAL
problem with "quality," versus the actual proportion of the red vs. white to
achieve any "statistical mean."

Think about it: When I first read the story, my immediate thoughts were,
"Well this is inherently unfair." But I did not think about the beads
themselves as the source of the problem. My thoughts went to closer visual
inspection of what part of the supply box the worker was dipping into, or
how to angle the paddle, or how to jiggle the paddle when lifting it up.
Only after I completely read the story, and Dr. Deming's comment that the
problem was NOT in the process at all, but in the SUPPLY - only then did I
"get it."

To achieve the "getting it" of your students, the higher the red count the
better, as long as it isn't too high as to be all red. See, we start with
the "given" that the supply is OK, that there's nothing we can do except
work with the materials given. We just accept that there are red beads in
with the white. Only AFTER the experiment is carried to its logical
conclusion do we think to look outside the box of our presumptions, at the
basis of our assumptions.

If you have more red, the harder the point will be driven home that the REAL
problem is the supplier, in this case, not any process or worker. If you
have less beads, simply adjust the "quota" percentage down, (i.e. instead of
"allowing" five beads per paddle, only allow three, or less).

The point is: There's no "optimum" percentage of red vs. white. By
concentrating on trying to find the optimum, you miss - I think! - the
reason. You see the trees, and you're studying them pretty hard, but the
real lesson is in the forest - no matter the trees! A good teacher will get
his or her students to notice the forest, regardless of the type of trees.
It doesn't matter what percentage of pine trees versus larches we have, just
see "the forest."

Dan "Armchair Philospher" Ford

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Prevette, Steven S" <Steven_S_Prevette@rl.gov>
To: <den.list@deming.ces.clemson.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 12:08 PM
Subject: RE: The % of red beads


> Myron, I think we have a bit of a paradox in this "debate" on the
proportion
> of Red Beads.  The Red Beads did evolve over the years, the versions in
> "Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position", "Out of the Crisis", and
> "The New Economics" show considerable change.  I have even picked up upon
> the use of "state your first name and spell it" in one videotape in the
> first interaction between Dr. Deming and the willing workers.  It is quite
> subtle, but has a profound impact.
>
> The paradox is - do we carve the Red Bead "rules" in stone and don't try
> further improvements, or do we try to continue to evolve the Red Beads.
If
> the proportion of beads is not that important, why not change them?  But
on
> the other hand are we only "tampering" if we do so?
>
> I liken this to the game of Monopoly, or even older, chess.  Very little
> change has occurred since the establishment of the rules of Monopoly in
the
> 1930's.  Certainly attempts have been made to "tweak" on the game, but
short
> of renaming the streets for different locales, the fundamental game as we
> see it sold in stores has been untouched in 70 years.  It has withstood
the
> "test of time" as is.
>
> I am personally happy with the current proportion of beads I use.  But
> certainly any DEN member who feels otherwise could establish a theory and
> test that theory through a PDSA cycle, and report back the results.  I
would
> be wary at first of doing the Red Beads with a different proportion with
> neophytes, for fear that if the change in the bead proportion had been
> merely tampering, the neophytes could get off to a bad start in their
Deming
> experience.
>
> Steve Prevette
> Occupational Safety and Health
> Fluor Hanford, A Fluor Government Group Project
> ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
> steven_s_prevette@rl.gov
> 509-373-9371
>