The tortoise and the hare LO24374

From: John Zavacki (jzavacki@greenapple.com)
Date: 04/17/00


Replying to LO24363 --

This is one of the issues which drives my mental model. Eugene says (in
reply to Richard):

> >Of what value is shipping-on-time if the items shipped are
> of inferior
> >quality? Why do we need to fragment quantity and quality?
>
> It is not possible to separate quality and quantity, but management
> persists in trying to think about them. This is what Deming
> was trying to
> say when he told us it was necessary to appreciate the system
> . And what
> Senge re-emphasized the point when he told us not to think
> linearly but to
> think is cause and effect by connect all parts of the system.
> He gave us a
> great new tool in the causal circle methods.
>
> Until managers start asking why is it so hard to meet the
> dates they will
> never see that quality is the necessary precedent to shipping
> on time.

Indeed. Deming wrote about 'quality, productivity, and competitive
position'. This was part of the first title of the book later published
as "Out of the Crisis". A major point is that quality, delivery, and cost
are sytemically interrelated and cannot be viewed as separate entities.
It takes all three to satisfy a customer. This becomes even more obvious
when we view 'lean' or 'agile' enterprise models and map the systems.

The less variation there is in a system, the greater the throughput. That
is, is we are not forced to chase after inventory, adjust or repair
equipment, or argue with people, we will see a more efficient and
effective system. This comes from teaching not only quality tools, but
systems and psychology as well.

John F. Zavacki
jzavacki@greenapple.com

-- 

"John Zavacki" <jzavacki@greenapple.com>

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