Who was William Edwards Deming? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: W. Edwards Deming

Died At Age: 93

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Agnes Bell, Lola Elizabeth Shupe

father: William Albert Demin

mother: Pluma Irene Edwards

siblings: Elizabeth Marie Deming Hood, Robert Edwards Deming

children: Diana, Dorothy, Linda

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Died on: December 20, 1993

place of death: Washington, D.C.

U.S. State: Iowa

More Facts

education: Yale University, University of Wyoming, University of Colorado at Boulder

awards: Shewhart Medal
Wilks Memorial Award

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What are the key principles of Deming's 14 Points for Management?

Some key principles of Deming's 14 Points for Management include focusing on long-term planning, improving systems rather than blaming individuals, and promoting employee training and development.
2

How did Deming's work influence the development of Total Quality Management (TQM)?

Deming's work emphasized the importance of quality control, continuous improvement, and customer focus, which became central tenets of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices.
3

What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and how did Deming contribute to its popularization?

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a four-step management method for continuous improvement. Deming emphasized the PDCA cycle in his teachings as a way for organizations to systematically approach problem-solving and enhance processes.
4

How did Deming's teachings impact the manufacturing industry in Japan?

Deming's teachings had a significant impact on the manufacturing industry in Japan by helping companies like Toyota implement quality control measures, improve production processes, and enhance overall efficiency.
5

What role did Deming play in the transformation of the Ford Motor Company in the 1980s?

Deming played a key role in the transformation of the Ford Motor Company by advocating for quality improvement strategies and inspiring a cultural shift towards prioritizing customer satisfaction and continuous learning within the organization.

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Childhood & Early Life

William Edwards Deming was born on October 14, 1900 in Sioux City, Iowa, to William Albert and Pluma Irene Edwards. His father was an insurance agent and lawyer and his mother was a piano teacher.

His parents were quite well-read, his father had studied mathematics and law and his mother was a learned musician from San Francisco, which is why they always emphasized on Deming’s education.

Deming started his education at the University of Wyoming in 1917, then enrolled at the University of Colorado and then at Yale University, where he finished his studies with the Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics.

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Career

Deming edited a series of lectures delivered by Walter A. Shewhart of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, at USDA, ‘Statistical Method from the Viewpoint of Quality Control’, into a book published in 1939.

In the following year, he developed the sampling techniques that were used for the first time during the 1940 U.S. Census, formulating the Deming-Stephan algorithm for iterative proportional fitting in the process.

He was made the member of the five-man Emergency Technical Committee to work on the compilation of the American War Standards and taught statistical process control techniques to the workers involved in wartime production.

In 1946, Deming joined the staff at New York University’s graduate school of business administration as a professor of statistics. In the following year, he was engaged in early planning for the 1951 Japanese Census.

He became a part of the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) and from 1950, he started training hundreds of engineers, managers and scholars in statistical process control (SPC) and concepts of quality.

The Prime Minister of Japan (Nobusuke Kishi) awarded Deming Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class in 1960. The quotation on the medal recognizes Deming's contributions to Japan's industrial revival and its global accomplishments.

After coming back to America, Deming ran his own consultancy business from Washington D.C. and in 1980, he was featured in an NBC TV documentary, ‘If Japan can…Why can’t we?’. This invariably increased the demand for his expertise.

In 1981, he was hired by Ford Motor Company’s newly appointed Division Quality Manager, John. A. Manoogian to help Ford increase its sales. With the help of Deming’s insights, by 1986 Ford became the most profitable American auto company.

Deming's book ‘Quality, Productivity, and Competitive Position’ was published by the MIT Center for Advanced Engineering in 1982, and was renamed ‘Out of the Crisis’ later.

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In 1982, Deming along with Paul Hertz and Howard Gitlow of the University Of Miami Graduate School Of Business in Coral Gables founded the W. Edwards Deming Institute for the Improvement of Productivity and Quality.

He joined the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University in 1988 and founded the W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness at Columbia Business School.

Deming published his final book, ‘The New Economics for Industry, Government, and Education’ in 1993, which included the ‘System of Profound Knowledge’ and the ‘14 Points for Management’.

Major Works

His work in Japan is considered as the most important contribution of his life. He taught top business managers how to improve service, product quality, testing, and sales by various means, including the application of statistical methods.

His contribution to Japanese economy made him into somewhat a hero in Japan, and he was awarded Deming Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class in 1960.

Awards & Achievements

Deming has been awarded accolades like: Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class, the National Medal of Technology, the Distinguished Career in Science award from the National Academy of Sciences, etc.

Personal Life & Legacy

Deming got married to Agnes Bell in 1922. They adopted a daughter named Dorothy together but a few years later Bell died.

In 1932, he got married to Lola Elizabeth Shupe, a teacher for mathematics and co-author of his several papers, and the couple had two children together: Diana and Linda.

Deming died in his sleep at the age of 93 in his Washington home on December 20, 1993 due to natural causes.

Facts About William Edwards Deming

William Edwards Deming was known for his love of music and was an accomplished violinist. He often incorporated musical references and analogies in his teachings on quality management.

Deming was a prolific author, writing several books on management theory and quality improvement throughout his career. His most famous work, "Out of the Crisis," continues to be a seminal text in the field.

Despite his reputation as a serious and focused professional, Deming had a playful side and was known for his dry sense of humor.

Deming was a lifelong learner and believed in the importance of continuous education and self-improvement.

He was always seeking new knowledge and insights to enhance his understanding of quality management principles.

In addition to his work in quality management, Deming was also passionate about promoting ethical business practices and social responsibility.

He believed that organizations should strive to make a positive impact on society as well as their bottom line.

William Edwards Deming Biography

You wanted to know

What are the key principles of Deming's 14 Points for Management?

How did Deming's work influence the development of Total Quality Management (TQM)?

What is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and how did Deming contribute to its popularization?

How did Deming's teachings impact the manufacturing industry in Japan?

What role did Deming play in the transformation of the Ford Motor Company in the 1980s?