William Edwards Deming: biography of this statistician and consultant

This researcher is best known for creating the concept of total quality.

There have been many wars throughout history, both in the past and even today, which have broken out for a Wide range of possible reasons and factors: from ideological conflicts to invasions provoked by the search for territory or resources. In these war conflicts a great deal of losses occur, with an immense number of casualties.

The intervention of external and professional forces to help promote regeneration and restructuring at the and restructuring at the social and economic level can be of great help, and can be can be of great help, implementing useful strategies to improve the situation of the country's inhabitants.

An example of this can be found in William Edwards Deming, one of the main ideologists who contributed to Japan's socioeconomic recovery after the events of World War II. It is about this relevant author that we are going to talk about in this article, in which we are going to see a brief biography of William Edward Deming. a brief biography of William Edward Deming.

Biography of William Edwards Deming

William Edwards Deming was born on October 14, 1900 in Sioux City, Iowa. He was the first of three sons of lawyer William Albert Deming and musician Irene Edwards.

The family had very few resources and lived in a humble home, in a precarious situation. Deming and his family initially lived in Sioux City, but later moved to a farm owned by his maternal grandfather in Camp Powell, Wyoming, after losing a lawsuit and the possibility of benefiting from the government's land concession in favor of agriculture.

Despite this, the farm was not very productive and the family's situation was difficult and they barely had enough to eat, so William Edwards Deming had to start working at the age of eight to survive. However, despite their poverty, the young boy's parents placed great importance on educating their children, and Deming attended Powell's school despite working at various jobs. The young boy excelled in mathematics and was even encouraged by several teachers to go to college.

Academic training and early working years

When he turned seventeen in 1917, young Deming left for Laramie to enroll at the University of Wyoming, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. left for Laramie to enroll at the University of Wyoming, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering.. He completed his studies in 1921, a year after his mother died.

A year later he married Agnes Bell, with whom he would have a daughter. Subsequently he completed a master's degree in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Colorado, followed by a doctorate in Physics at Yale University in 1928, with a thesis in Physics.D. in Physics at Yale University in 1928, with the thesis "A Possible Explanation of the Packing Effect of Helium". At the latter university he was hired as a part-time professor.

In 1927 he was hired by the Washington Department of Agriculture and by the U.S. Census Bureau, where he served as a statistical advisor. During his tenure in these positions he discovered different procedures proposed by Walter Shewhart, which would be the basis of many of his later ideas. He taught at the USDA Graduate School, and wrote multiple articles and publications..

Unfortunately, three years later his wife died, and during the same year his father died as well. It was not until 1932 that he reestablished his sentimental life, marrying Lola Elizabeth Shupe, with whom he would have two more daughters.

World War II and his role in the recovery of Japan

During the early stages of World War II, he was commissioned to increase the quality of the army's armament during the beginning of the First World War. In 1935 he began working as a professor of mathematics and statistics at the USDA Graduate School, while continuing to study statistical methodologies proposed by great professionals in the field.

He retired from the Administration in 1946 and became a consultant and professor of statistics at New York University. That same year he was sent to Japan to study agricultural production and the problems arising from the damage caused during the war. and the problems derived from the damages generated during the war, a trip in which he would make numerous contacts interested in his theories (which had not been excessively taken into account in the United States).

Later in 1950 he would be contacted and would give numerous seminars in Japan on statistical control, He trained a large number of professionals in statistical process control and total quality management..

These lectures were transcribed and sold, enjoying enormous success. Although they wanted to pay him the royalties, Deming decided to reject it and instead proposed to use what he had been given to generate an award for exemplary companies (the Deming Award, today one of the most relevant awards for Japanese companies). His theories and methods were quickly applied, which contributed greatly to changing the country's economy and mentality. greatly contributed to changing the country's economy and mentality: the need to control the quality of processes and materials and to generate plans to help manage it without waste.The need to control the quality of processes and materials and to generate plans to help manage it without waste. He also elaborated multiple principles and obstacles that served to favor the control of such quality.

Prestige and homecoming

After his time in Japan, William Edwards Deming's popularity increased greatly, making multiple lectures in different parts of the world and a large number of publications.

The ideas that helped to improve the Japanese economy, and which until his time in Japan had not been valued in his home country, also began to be reviewed and applied in his own country. and applied in the United States as well.. In 1975 Deming retired from teaching, but continued to publish internationally acclaimed works. He also received a large number of awards and distinctions, such as the National Medal of Technology, as well as honorary doctorates from multiple universities.

Death

William Edward Deming died on December 20, 1933, the same year he founded the W. Edward Deming Institute. Edward Deming Institute. His death took place in Washington D.C.

The role of this important statistician, mathematician, professor and consultant was enormous throughout his life, and even lasts beyond his death.and even lasts beyond his death. His methods and principles are still valid in Japanese society and have been successfully applied in other parts of the world, still of great use in the world of management.