W.E. Deming

W.E. Deming's name is synonymous with Total Quality Management.

Deming began his career in the US Government Service, where his application of statistical principles to clerical operations in the 1940 population census led to six-fold productivity improvements in some processes.

As a result, Deming started to run statistical courses to explain his methods.

Although his ideas were well-received by engineers, management were unconvinced.

It was when Deming was sent to Japan that his ideas received the recognition they deserved.

He was invited to lecture at the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) after its formation in 1946.

His principles of TQM were formulated in these lectures, and were enthusiastically endorsed by Japanese businesses.

In 1956 Deming was awarded the Shewhart medal by the American Society for Quality Control.

Four years later, the Japanese Emperor awarded him the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Deming is recognized as putting Japan on the road to leadership in international business and industry.

It was not until the 1970s, however, that Deming started to make an impact in the West. Heads of leading businesses began to consult with him, and an NBC television documentary entitled 'If Japan Can, Why Can't We?' broadened his audience still further.

Throughout the 1980s various books were written by others to document and explain his work.

His own book Out of the Crisis was published in 1986 and he was awarded the National Medal of Technology in America the following year.

In 1987, the British Deming Association was formed to spread awareness of the Deming philosophy.

This collection gathers together the key material to enable students and researchers to explore the impact of Deming's ideas.

The set includes a new introduction and an extensive annotated bibliography, making this an invaluable research resource.