I stumbled across an interesting article in Quality Digest called "We Gotta Make Quality Cool Again", written by industry expert Mike Micklewright from January 2011. 

If you have 5 minutes, give it a read: https://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-column/we-gotta-make-quality-cool-again.html

 

Fast forward eight and a half years. Is his message still true? Is a real "Quality" success story still a thing of the past? What are you doing to make quality cool in your organization?

It's hard to work at PQ Systems and not be influenced by the teachings of Dr. Deming.  His thoughts on quality in leadership and management are weaved tightly into our company's culture and - I believe - directly impact most of our decisions regarding the system in which we operate.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be introducing each of Deming's 14 Points for Management along with an example or two of how I've caught myself implementing them into my everyday life.  I would encourage you to share your experiences by commenting as well!

Point #1
Create constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service, with the aim to become competitive and to stay in business, and to provide jobs.

My Reflection
Continuous improvement is a good place to begin this journey.  Commit your focus towards long-term success and try to resist being funneled into short-term solutions to bigger issues.  Perhaps my favorite explanation of this point is the following, "Don't just do the same things better - find better things to do."  Challenge yourself to think about (and prepare for) the problems of tomorrow rather than being fully consumed by the problems of today.

Here's a fun personal example for you.  Surviving parenthood (so far) with a two-year-old, I've stumbled across a few companies who effectively solved tomorrow's problems.  If you've had kids, you understand the car seat and highchair crumb trails left behind by your hungry, but clumsy toddler.  Solving today's problem would be focusing on techniques for cleaning up the mess. For example, car seat vacuums and spill-resistant fabric would do a great job at that.  Improving constantly and solving tomorrow's problems introduced me to the Gyro Bowl.  If you haven't seen it before, Google it!  It's a children's snack bowl suspended on three axes so that, regardless of the way the bowl is held, the contents remain upright and in the bowl.  The point for me is that I didn't even realize the effort I put into constantly cleaning until I learned of the "guaranteed no spill" bowl.  Parenting gadgets = continuously improving the quality of life!

What about you?  How has Deming's 1st Point presented itself in your professional or personal life?
 

This is a slippery slope.

Gage - is usually used as a proper name

Gauge - is a tool used to measure

Definition of gauge 1 a : a measurement (as of linear dimension) according to some standard or system: such as