Re: PDSA vs Theory of Knowledge

[mel cornin <melcor@verizon.net>]

Hi John,
Deming developed and honed his personal philosophy while working with  
the heads of Japanese corporations.  He have a series of lectures on  
Quality Control the the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers  
(JUSE) in 1950.  Over time, he formulated his philosophy into a  
series of principles.  According to Walton (1986), these principles  
changed in number from the 1950's through the 1980's because Deming  
didn't need fourteen of them when he was in Japan.  Walton stated,  
"It was in America that he became aware of the tyranny of fear, of  
barriers, of quotas and sloganeering" (p.34).  He also didn't need an  
admonition to "remove barriers to pride of workmanship" while in  
Japan.  The notes are from my doctoral dissertation, "Continuous  
Improvement in a New York State School District."  The title of  
Walton's text is "The Deming Management Method."  Deming wrote the  
Foreward to Walton's book.

Although Deming was not a fan of the Baldrige Award, his 14 points  
have been useful in winning the award for businesses. According to  
George (1992) "The Baldrige Quality System," "One of the first  
decisions Zytec Corporation's made in 1984 was to focus on quality  
and to improve quality by implementing Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 14  
Points for Management.  Zytec Corporation won the Baldrige Award in  
1991. The company was only seven years old" (p. 30).

Dr. Mel Cornin