Deming’s 14 Points In Small Manufacturing – Part 7: Focus on Continual Improvement and Leadership

Last updated Nov 10, 2021

continual improvement leadership
Deming has provided a framework for intuitional training and leadership to develop teams that are focused on continual improvement and reducing variability. He finishes his last two points with exceedingly important notes regarding supplier development and organization transformation.  
End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag. Instead, minimize total cost. Move toward a single supplier for any one item on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust.
Every local OEM has a supplier development team that is focused on getting their suppliers to meet internally and sometimes poorly defined requirements. Suppliers are cautious with their investments as the work may quickly disappear due to competitors’ undercut prices. If OEM quality, supplier development and production departments are not working together to identify key suppliers, they will undercut the market and drive quality out of their system. Suppliers that are insecure in their future may not invest in the newest technology, training or improvement efforts. Manufacturers must work directly with the supplier and explain the true production and customer requirements.  
Put everybody in the organization to work to accomplish the transformations. The transformation is everybody’s job.
In his final point, Deming pushes management to get involved in the transformation of their companies with the use of the Plan. – Do. – Check. – Act. Cycle. Management must provide the vision, the training, the team atmosphere, eliminate fear and the support for continual improvement efforts while workers must be engaged and supportive in their involvement. Workers and management cannot independently make the change. They must work in tandem to transform their businesses for sustainability and job security. Visit the Ledge Blog for more articles on continual improvement, with a focus on ISO Standards and Quality Management, as well as, the previous articles focusing on Deming’s 14 Points in Small Manufacturing.
In need of assistance with developing your Continual Improvement Plan or Quality Management System? Contact Ledge today for assistance.

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Adam Marsh

Adam Marsh

President, Ledge Inc.

Adam is a Penn State engineer that has served as a Data Analyst and Engineer at St. Onge Company for 5 years, prior to establishing Ledge Inc. While maintaining a focus on simple solutions, Ledge Inc. has provided quality system implementation, process design, database development, quality tools, quality training, and data analysis to over 35 companies in South Central Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Adam currently serves as the sitting Chair for American Society for Quality Harrisburg Section 503 and as a member of the board for The Manufacturers’ Associations of South Central PA.

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