Joseph Juran and W. Edwards Deming were the great leaders in quality in the 20th Century. Their ideas are the foundation for quality today. Both were interviewed separately for the PBS Special, An Immigrant’s Gift. From the files of the Dr. Juran "An Immigrant's Gift" Archival Project: Each talks about meeting the other and their relationship.
The interview with Dr. Deming was on April 10, 1991, in Washington, DC; the interview with Dr. Juran, May 2, 1991, in Wilton, Connecticut.
DR. JURAN: Well, our paths first crossed during World War II. I took him to lunch during the war . . . a Romanian restaurant that served blintzes. So, that's when I took him to lunch, and I assume I met him then. I might have met him before that, I'm not sure of that. We once were in this Hawthorne factory together, but I didn't know that he was there and he didn't know I was there, and we were not in the same area. That's just one of those coincidences that has no relation to this field.
Our paths have been totally different. He's a statistician. He spent a good deal of time in the Bureau of Census, very helpful to them in sampling as a means of handling the census and the like. Statistician. Whereas my field has been quality and then, subsequently, management, and finally, back into quality again.
As to our relationship, we're good friends. And I think there's a mutual respect there. I've got a lot of respect for his status as statistician. He's been a deep thinker on it. I don't think he's invented anything. But he has made contributions.
The interview with Dr. Deming was on April 10, 1991, in Washington, DC; the interview with Dr. Juran, May 2, 1991, in Wilton, Connecticut.
DR. JURAN: Well, our paths first crossed during World War II. I took him to lunch during the war . . . a Romanian restaurant that served blintzes. So, that's when I took him to lunch, and I assume I met him then. I might have met him before that, I'm not sure of that. We once were in this Hawthorne factory together, but I didn't know that he was there and he didn't know I was there, and we were not in the same area. That's just one of those coincidences that has no relation to this field.
Our paths have been totally different. He's a statistician. He spent a good deal of time in the Bureau of Census, very helpful to them in sampling as a means of handling the census and the like. Statistician. Whereas my field has been quality and then, subsequently, management, and finally, back into quality again.
As to our relationship, we're good friends. And I think there's a mutual respect there. I've got a lot of respect for his status as statistician. He's been a deep thinker on it. I don't think he's invented anything. But he has made contributions.
DR. DEMING: I'm not sure if I could recall the first
meeting. One of the first ones was in Washington. I
have a hard time giving you an approximation to the date.
He took me to lunch in Washington, to a Hungarian restaurant.
Had cheese blintzes and had a nice talk about Western
Electric, other things. I, resolved to take him to lunch sometime, but every time I tried to, found that lunch was free to both of us. I
had no chance to repay him all these years. Interest has
amounted up to quite a bit by now.
He had of course a great understanding about Western Electric. I'm a good listener, learn from anybody. He was very kind, though, to call me up and invite me to lunch. Appreciated that.
I've learned a lot from him . . . He made the statement, could have been long about 1954, could have been earlier, that when anybody on the job, let's say hourly workers, have achieved statistical control of their process, they have put in the job all that they have to offer. Powerful statement. I've never forgotten it.
Image of Dr. Juran courtesy of G. Howland Blackiston. Used with permission.
Image of Dr. Deming from FDA.gov in public domain. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/File:W._Edwards_Deming.jpg
He had of course a great understanding about Western Electric. I'm a good listener, learn from anybody. He was very kind, though, to call me up and invite me to lunch. Appreciated that.
I've learned a lot from him . . . He made the statement, could have been long about 1954, could have been earlier, that when anybody on the job, let's say hourly workers, have achieved statistical control of their process, they have put in the job all that they have to offer. Powerful statement. I've never forgotten it.
Image of Dr. Juran courtesy of G. Howland Blackiston. Used with permission.
Image of Dr. Deming from FDA.gov in public domain. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/File:W._Edwards_Deming.jpg
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