"Deming is widely credited with improving production in the United States during World War II, although he is perhaps best known for his work in Japan. There, from 1950 onward he taught top management how to improve design (and thus service), product quality, testing and sales (the last through global markets)[1] through various methods, including the application of statistical methods. Deming made a significant contribution to Japan's later renown for innovative high-quality products and its economic power.
It was the U.S. that spearheaded the rebuilding of Japan's heavy industries after WWII.
Kinda makes me wonder if 50 years from now, we'll be reading a similar article about the Middle East.
Even more mind-boggling, if logic were the standard for judging these things, is how US auto makers have ignored Toyota's management innovations and continue on their merry way into decay. Porsche adopted lean fully, and the results for them have been also quite compelling. Audi is also going lean. On the service side, Rockwell Collins has had enormous success with adopting lean for their engineering.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming
"Deming is widely credited with improving production in the United States during World War II, although he is perhaps best known for his work in Japan. There, from 1950 onward he taught top management how to improve design (and thus service), product quality, testing and sales (the last through global markets)[1] through various methods, including the application of statistical methods. Deming made a significant contribution to Japan's later renown for innovative high-quality products and its economic power.
It was the U.S. that spearheaded the rebuilding of Japan's heavy industries after WWII.
Kinda makes me wonder if 50 years from now, we'll be reading a similar article about the Middle East.