Out of the Crisis

Rating:
Summary: Six Sigma...Demming created it....Harry ripped it off!
Review: Witness the big bang of the quality universe. If you manage anything this is a method you must understand.

Rating:
Summary: An important milestone in the awareness of quality
Review: Written in 1985, this classic text from an American icon contains timeless principles of quality that still apply in many ways to today's eBusiness world. Deming is insightful and even humorous in his description of what he considered the diseases plaguing this country's quality issues at that time (constant comparisons with the Japanese, who, of course, in his mind were doing it right). He teaches that most quality issues are systemic (process related) and, therefore, the responsibility of management. His message is summarized in his 14 points and the usage of six-sigma control charts. These concepts are expanded in the text The Deming Route to Quality and Productivity - Roadmaps and Roadblocks by W. W. Scherkenbach

What impresses me most is that Deming's principles have not been forgotten over the last few decades - they have been assimilated into the language and beliefs of today's quality and success leaders.

With that said, the book is dated - both in language and, of course, in technology. Deming smothers you in examples of production line issues and basic management mistakes.

While it may no longer be a must read, Out of the Crisis remains a treasured part of our technical history.