Quotes That Shaped the Face of the Manufacturing Industry - Part One

The principles of continuous improvement, efficiency, and quality management have been profoundly shaped by influential production practicioners such as Taiichi Ohno, Shigeo Shingo, W. Edwards Deming, Peter Drucker, Kaoru Ishikawa, and others.

Their insights and famous quotes have not only defined modern manufacturing but also laid the foundation for Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM) methodologies. Concepts like eliminating waste, prioritizing measurable improvements, and fostering a strong organizational culture have become central to the success of industries worldwide.

From Ohno’s emphasis on problem-solving to Deming’s advocacy for data-driven decision-making, these pioneers have transformed how businesses approach productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Their wisdom continues to influence the manufacturing industry, driving companies to constantly refine processes, train employees, and challenge inefficiencies in pursuit of excellence. Understanding and applying these timeless principles is crucial for organizations striving to stay competitive in an ever-evolving global economy.

"Having no problems is the biggest problem of all." - Taiichi Ohno

This quote emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement, suggesting that the absence of problems often indicates complacency, lack of innovation, or unawareness of underlying inefficiencies.

"There are four purposes of improvement: easier, better, faster, and cheaper. These four goals appear in the order of priority." - Shigeo Shingo

This quote highlights the structured priorities of improvement, emphasizing that efficiency should first focus on making processes easier, then improving quality, followed by increasing speed, and finally reducing costs.

"What gets measured gets managed." - Peter Drucker

Both with the other similar quote "If you can't measure it, you can't change it." emphasizes the importance of measurement in management and improvement, suggesting that tracking and quantifying performance is essential for effective decision-making, control, and meaningful change.

"Put a good person in a bad system and the bad system wins, no contest." - W. Edwards Deming

This quote highlights the impact of systemic design on performance, emphasizing that even talented individuals will struggle or fail if placed in a flawed or inefficient system.

"Quality control starts and ends with training." - Kaoru Ishikawa

This quote emphasizes that achieving and maintaining quality relies on proper training, as well-equipped and knowledgeable employees are essential for consistently meeting quality standards.

"Costs do not exist to be calculated. Costs exist to be reduced." - Taiichi Ohno

This quote emphasizes the proactive approach to cost management, suggesting that instead of merely tracking expenses, businesses should focus on continuously identifying and eliminating unnecessary costs to improve efficiency.

"It's only the last turn of a bolt that tightens it - the rest is just movement." - Shigeo Shingo

This and the next quote show that Shigeo Shingo was obsessed with waste reduction, clearly distinguishing what brings value to the customer and what is merely unnecessary movement.

Here, you can learn more about types of waste and ways to eliminate them.

"The most dangerous kind of waste is the waste we do not recognize." - Shigeo Shingo

This quote emphasizes the importance of awareness in continuous improvement, suggesting that unidentified inefficiencies are the most harmful because they persist unnoticed, preventing optimization and progress.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast." - Peter Drucker

This quote emphasizes that a strong organizational culture, built on teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement, is more influential in driving long-term success than any strategy, as even the best plans will fail if the company culture does not support them.

"In God we trust; all others bring data." - W. Edwards Deming

This quote underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making, suggesting that while faith may have its place, in business and problem-solving, evidence and measurable facts are essential for making informed choices.