Biography

Deming, born in Sioux City, Iowa, received an engineering degree from Wyoming University and a masters in physics and mathematics from Colorado University. He completed his academic education with a PhD from Yale in the same subjects. The greatest influence on his life's work occurred between terms at Yale, when he worked at the Western Electric (AT&T) Hawthorne factory, where 46,000 workers assembled telephones.

He was not impressed by the managers' methods, but the positive experience of his time at Hawthorne was being influenced by Walter A. Shewhart, who introduced him to statistical quality control.

Although Deming is given the credit for introducing Quality Management to Japanese industry post-World War II in 1950, followed by Juran in 1954, it was the American Homer Sarasohn who began the work. All three were appointed by General Douglas McArthur, US Commander for South East Asia.

Read More