Quality Quote by James P. Womack
““By design, flow systems have an everything-works-or-nothing-works quality which must be respected and anticipated.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Machine That Changed the World, 1990
Flow systems demand all-or-nothing performance, so they must be designed and managed with that certainty in mind.
In simple terms: Design for certainty in flow systems.
Key Takeaway
Plan for total reliability.
Themes
systems design
risk management
operations
strategy
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
technical
strategic
When to use this quote
- manufacturing
- software deployment
- logistics
- process improvement
Key Concepts
Systems theory
all‑or‑nothing principle
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you build flexibility into an all‑or‑nothing system?
- What safeguards prevent total failure?
A Different Perspective
Assuming perfect flow can ignore inevitable variability.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
