Description: The session will focus on Dr. Deming’s question: “Why are we here?” and relate all of his teachings back to that question. Together, we will discuss meanings of Quality, Improvement, PDSA, PDCA, Scientific Method, Forces of Destruction, Tools for Learning, Psychology and try to bring it all together to learning and making a difference. Then we’ll explore the limits.

Target Audience: Anyone interested in learning more about Dr. Deming

Organizational Issues: How to integrate Dr. Deming's theory of mangement into your life

Objectives: A better understanding of the importance of values

Cost: None

Pre-work: None

Materials Needed: None

Handouts: Available for download after the Forum

Biography: Dick Steele founded Peaker Services, Inc. in June of 1971 with two other guys, three service vans and a two-car garage.  Peaker Services, Inc. has two main lines of work: rebuilding the diesel engine that normally goes into locomotives, large boats and electrical generators, and designing electrical systems for power control applications.  In the electrical production business, anything that produces electricity during peak demand times are called “Peakers”.   

In 1988, after attending a 4-Day Deming seminar, things changed.  Dick became familiar with Dr. W. Edwards Deming in August of 1988 and, with the help of Bill Craft (Dr. Deming said, “Bill Craft, ah yes, good man”), started his study of the Deming philosophy.  Performance appraisals were eliminated the Monday after getting back from the first of several 4-day Deming seminars.  The structure of the company was changed in the following year.  The new pay system took 3 years to complete.  Bonus and Profit Sharing were completed shortly thereafter.  A new performance review system tied only to learning and having nothing to do with pay or promotion was devised.  Many, many good people helped with all of the changes that followed.     

Dick is a member of the Board of the W. Edwards Deming Institute and is the Agenda Coordinator of the Deming Study Group of Greater Detroit.  He has been a board member of Old Kent Bank of Brighton, McPherson Hospital and Habitat for Humanity Huron Valley.  Dick has also served as house leader for 11 homes built by Habitat for Humanity in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor.    Dick has two degrees from Iowa State University: BSME and BSAeroE.  Hobbies include mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter.  Dick is married to Marie and has 6 grandsons.

Contact: Dick can be reached by e-mail at DickSteele@aol.com for additional information about this Pre-Conference session

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richard-steele-6586477