7 replies to this topic

[Simon]

Of course all of the Quality Guru's have merit, but whose concept and approach to quality has had the greatest impact?

Who in your opinion is the King of Quality?

Vote and let us know why here...

[Simon]

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Simon

[Simon]

Juran has surged to an overwhelming lead in the poll and it's looking very likely that he will be crowned "King of Quality". Before any of you statisticians complain that there hasn't been enough votes to make such a prediction - I don't care for me there is only one winner Dr Joseph M Juran.

During the 1980's and 1990's a new guru with a new methodology for improving quality seemed to appear and the picture was very confusing especially for someone just starting to study quality management. I'm glad that I decided to take out a mortgage and purchase Juran's Quality Control Handbook and then later Juran on Planning for Quality as both books helped me immensely and I still refer to them over a decade later.

I know statistics and measurement are very important for quality improvement but they have never really excited me. I have always been much more interested in the human aspects of improvement and that's why I empathised so much with Juran's philosophies. Juran's belief that quality is everyone's responsibility and must be built into the process rather than relying on inspection is to me the essence of quality. He believed very much in the involvement and empowerment of employees, the importance of planning for quality and what we now call 'customer focus'.

Lots of excellent Juran reading is avilable here: http://www.juran.com although you will have to register for free membership first.

Regards,
Simon

[David Hutchins]

I totally agree with your assessment of Dr Juran's position but think that Professor Ishikawa should be hard on his heels (he does not get anything like the exposure in the West that he deserves because he is Japanese and we only like to promote Americans!!!).

Shewhart should be way ahead of Deming because Deming only re-iterated Dr Shewhart's material (albeit very well), he did not contribute much of his own. The 14 points Hmmm, I have a heap of original Japanese material here and I think that you will find that Deming did a good job in researching that and putting it in a succinct manner but it was not the original profound thought that many believe. The profound thought was entirely Japanese and it is what they are good at.

Dr Noriaki Kano is another who deserves more than a mention. I suggest that you might include the Kano Model in your list of tools, it is very powerful and entirely original.

[Mike S.]

FWIW I went with Juran for his more down-to-Earth style, lack of pomposity, depth of knowledge, easier-to-understand explanations, and his fantastic reference book. But many (all?) of the others bring something valuable to the table -- no one has a corner on the market of good ideas.

Now, what about "general" management/business experts (not primarily Quality focused)? I'd go with Tom Peters.

[Simon]

Quite recently I've gotten into audio tape books. In the last couple of weeks I've listened to The Circle of Innovation by Tom Peters, which although very insightful (and he is brilliant) I really don't like his style or should I say tone and I don't think I took in quite as much as I should have, perhaps I should read the book.

I've also listened to Principle Centred Leadership by Stephen Covey and am now on the Seven Habits. I'm really enjoying them and have already begun to make some radical changes and am beginning to think deeply about myself and the relationships I have professionally and at home. I'm also thinking about my mission: where I am, where I want to be and how I'm going to get there. Yes I think Covey is very, very smart...

B)
Simon

[Wallace Tait]

I voted for Deming.
Deming successfully infused the profound need for statistical analyses and effective process management to be one and the same thing.
Deming's System of Profound Knowledge remains to be the knowledge and learning key stone to many successful Business process systems. He was indisputably responsible for the Genesis of the CI movement in Japan that later became to be know as Kaizen.
Taking the survey into perspective though, I am of the opinion that all the Quality management greats mentioned, are equally due the accolades of being crowned a King of Quality.
Wallace.

[Simon]

Of course you're right Wallace; they've all made a valuable contribution. There was an interesting story in the Juran Institute Newsletter today. It went something like this:

A chicken egg takes 21 days to incubate. No more, no less. To demonstrate a point during a presentation Dr. Juran used a blow torch on some chicken eggs to dramatize that some processes just can't be rushed. Similarly, a company embarking on quality efforts needs to allow ample time for changes in its culture and structure to take hold.

It's a simple notion but the image is powerful and permanent.

Was this early Stoka Yolk?

Regards,
Simon