RE: The Desire to do better

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

On Deming and Communism.  My opinion.

 Communism comes down to allocation of resources.  From each according
to his/her ability, to each according to his/her need.  The difficulty
is that the central planning that ends up having to be used cannot
determine peoples' needs.  I need a Ferrari!  Deming never suggested
that we will all achieve our needs or wants or that allocation to
individuals should be centrally planned.  In communism, entities are
coerced to "cooperate", are coerced to make product or provide services.

What Deming (and especially Kohn) propose is one of cooperation.  Yes, I
compete in the marketplace for the purchasing of resources, and the
selling of my finished goods.  Even the "Supply Chain Management" folks
have learned that I should align my supply chain, and ensure I cooperate
with my vendors for mutual win-win solutions.  As in Atlas Shrugged (Ayn
Rand), no one is FORCING me to cooperate.  I choose to cooperate with
another individual or another company in ways that are mutually
beneficial.  Deming did not propose some governmental central planning
committee.  He did suggest you may have committees of corporations (or
individuals) who have decided it is to their mutual interest to
cooperate, to standardize (4 foot 8 1/2 inch railway gauge, 120V 60
cycle AC electricity, "D" cell batteries, etc).


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