Common Quotes by W. Edwards Deming

Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.

— W. Edwards Deming

In Japan, a company worker's position is secure. He is retrained for another job if his present job is eliminated by productivity improvement.

— W. Edwards Deming

We are here to make another world.

— W. Edwards Deming

It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.

— W. Edwards Deming

Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer.

— W. Edwards Deming

The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.

— W. Edwards Deming

A leader is a coach, not a judge.

— W. Edwards Deming

It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.

— W. Edwards Deming

Sub-optimization is when everyone is for himself. Optimization is when everyone is working to help the company.

— W. Edwards Deming

We know what we told him, but we don't know what he heard.

— W. Edwards Deming

Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.

— W. Edwards Deming

A manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. This is not ranking people. He needs to understand that the performance…

— W. Edwards Deming