Biography - W. Edwards Deming (1900 - 1993)

During the 1990s there was considerable interest in improving quality in manufacturing and subsequently in the ideas of W. Edwards Deming. In Canadian Business it was noted that "The Japanese credit him [Deming] with transforming their postwar economy. Now Canadian companies are discovering Deming's magic formula for zero-defect manufacturing" ("Dr. Deming's Traveling Quality Show", Sept. 1990, p.38). When he died it was reported that "His success in Japan made him the leader of a generation of specialists on product durability and reliability who were then sought by U.S. companies trying to catch up to Asian competitors" ("Quality Expert Helped Japan Rebuild", Globe & Mail, Dec. 21, 1993). The purpose of this brief guide is to lead you to the work produced by Deming which had remained dormant for so long. In addition, it will also direct you to subsequent commentaries on the work of Deming and on the "TQM Movement" generally.

Books by Deming
(presented in reverse chronological order).

Out of the Crisis, BUS HD70.U5D45 1986.
For a review of this book and some others on Deming see the Academy of Management Review, Vol.13, No.1, Jan. 1988, p138 - available in the Business Library. The reviewer noted: "Few individuals have had as much positive impact on the world economy as Dr. Edwards Deming".

Sample Design in Business Research,  HA33.D39 1960.

Some Theory of Sampling,  HA33.D4 1950.

Statistical Adjustment of Data, QA275.D35 1943

Statistical Method from the Viewpoint of Quality Control,  HA33.S45 1939
This book was actually written by Walter Shewhart with the editorial assistance of Deming. We also have Shewhart's
The Economic Control of Quality of Manufactured Product,  HA33.S4 1931 - which has been referred to as Deming's bible.

Books About Deming
(in reverse chronological order)

Deming: The Way We Knew Him, Frank Voehl (HD31.D4223 1995)

Thinking About Quality: Progress, Wisdom and the Deming Philosophy, Lloyd Dobyns & C. Crawford-Mason
(TS156.D615 1994)

Everyday Heroes of the Quality Movement: From Taylor to Deming, the Journey to Higher Productivity, Perry Gluckman
(HD56.G58 1993)

Deming Management at Work, Mary Walton (HD38.D439W34 1991)

An Introduction to Total Quality for Schools: A Collection of Articles on the Concepts of Total Quality Management and W. Edwards Deming, American Association of School Administrators (EDU LB2806.I587 1991).

Deming's 14 Points Applied to Services, A.C.Rosander (HD9980.5.R674 1991)

The Man Who Discovered Quality: How W. Edwards Deming Brought the Quality Revolution to America: The Stories of Ford, Xerox and G.M., Andrea Gabor. (BUS TS156.G3 1990)

The Deming Guide to Quality and Competitive Position, Howard S. Gitlow & Shelly Gitlow (HD38.D439G58 1987)

The Deming Management Method, Mary Walton (BUS HD38.D439W35 1986)

The Deming Route to Quality and Productivity: Roadmaps and Roadblocks, W.W. Scherkenbach (TS15.S358 1986)

Articles By Deming

During the period from 1975 to 1993 Deming authored seven articles which appear in the ProQuest ABI/Inform Global database and they may be found easily by searching that database. In addition, one will also find over 20 of his articles in statistics journals. The easiest and fastest way to locate those articles is by using JSTOR. Provided below are a few samples which are found in their entirety on JSTOR. Use of ProQuest and JSTOR is restricted by license agreement to members of the UWO community. Print copies of the journals are usually available.

"On a Problem in Standards of Auditing From the Viewpoint of Statistical Practice", Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, Vol. 2, Iss. 3, Spring 1979, p.197.

"On a Rational Relationship for Certain Costs of Handling Motor Freight", Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, Vol. 18, Iss. 2, Winter 1978, p.79.

"On Probability as a Basis for Action", American Statistician, Vol. 29, Iss. 4, Nov. 1975, p.146.

"On Some Statistical Aids Toward Economic Production", Interfaces, Vol. 5, Iss. 4, p.1.

"A Markovian Analysis of the Life of Newspaper Subscriptions", Management Science, Vol. 14, Iss. 6, Feb. 1968, p.B-283.

"On the Necessity to Present Consumer Prefernces as Predictions", Journal of Marketing, Vol. 18, Iss. 1, July 1953, p.1.

"On the Distinction Between Enumerative and Analytic Surveys", Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 48, No. 262, June 1953, p.244.

"Statistical Techniques and International Trade", Journal of Marketing, Vol. 17, Iss. 4, Apr. 1953, p.428.

"On Training in Sampling," Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 40, No. 231, Sept. 1945, p. 307.

Articles About Deming

While Deming's work generally went unnoticed initially (there are only about a dozen references in the Business literature between 1980 and 1987), in recent years the volume has increased considerably. Many articles can be found quickly by searching ProQuest. For search assistance or for advice about other databases, ask library staff members. Here are some recent article titles:

"In the Beginning There Were Deming and Juran," , P. Landesberg, Journal for Quality and Participation, Vol.22, No.6, Nov./Dec. 1999, p.59. We also have a guide to the work of Juran

"W. Edwards, Deming (1900-1993): Quality Controller," M. Davids, Journal of Business Strategy, Vol.20, No.5, Sept. 1999, p.31.

For an example of a periodical which consistently deals with quality-related issues see Quality Progress which is produced by the American Society for Quality Control. To find books related to the general topic of "Total Quality Mangement", click here

Deming-related Websites

Three sites to help you find additional information:

W. Edwards Deming Institute

The Deming Cooperative

Curious Cat: Deming on Management