Who Is W. Edwards Deming? Age, Biography and Wiki
W. Edwards Deming was born on October 14, 1900, and passed away on December 20, 1993. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 125th birthday if he were still alive. Renowned as a pioneer in the field of quality management, Deming emphasized statistical methods to optimize production and has significantly influenced the practices of many organizations worldwide. His philosophy, often summarized in the "Deming Cycle" (Plan-Do-Study-Act), is central to quality control discussions and business strategies even today.
| Occupation | Mathematician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 14, 1900 |
| Age | 93 Years |
| Birth Place | Sioux City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 20 December, 1993 |
| Died Place | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Popularity
W. Edwards Deming's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specifics regarding W. Edwards Deming's height and weight are not extensively documented, he was known for his intellectual stature in the field of quality management. His influence transcends physical attributes, as his ideas and methodologies continue to resonate through business practices to this day.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
W. Edwards Deming was married to his wife, Agnes, who played an essential role in his life and career. They shared a long-lasting bond that supported his ambitions in statistical analysis and quality management. Although Deming had no publicly known boyfriends or girlfriends, his dedication to his work and family reflects his strong commitment to personal values and relationships.
William Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 – December 20, 1993) was an American business theorist, composer, economist, industrial engineer, management consultant, statistician, and writer.
Educated initially as an electrical engineer and later specializing in mathematical physics, he helped develop the sampling techniques still used by the United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
He is also known as the father of the quality movement and was hugely influential in post-WWII Japan, credited with revolutionizing Japan's industry and making it one of the most dominant economies in the world. He is best known for his theories of management.
Net Worth and Salary
Given that W. Edwards Deming was a significant figure in the field of statistics and quality management, estimates of his net worth at the time of his death suggest he had an accumulated fortune that reflected his contributions to various industries. Although exact figures are not available, experts believe his influence on businesses worldwide has had a lasting economic impact.
Ford Motor Company was one of the first American corporations to seek help from Deming. In 1981, Ford's sales were falling. Between 1979 and 1982, Ford had incurred $3 billion in losses. Ford's newly appointed Corporate Quality Director, Larry Moore, was charged with recruiting Deming to help jump-start a quality movement at Ford.
Deming questioned the company's culture and the way its managers operated. To Ford's surprise, Deming talked not about quality, but about management. He told Ford that management actions were responsible for 85% of all problems in developing better cars. In 1986, Ford came out with a profitable line of cars, the Taurus-Sable line.
In a letter to Autoweek, Donald Petersen, then Ford chairman, said, "We are moving toward building a quality culture at Ford and the many changes that have been taking place here have their roots directly in Deming's teachings." By 1986, Ford had become the most profitable American auto company.
For the first time since the 1920s, its earnings had exceeded those of arch-rival General Motors (GM). Ford had come to lead the American automobile industry in improvements. Ford's following years' earnings confirmed that its success was not a fluke, for its earnings continued to exceed GM and Chrysler's.
Career, Business and Investments
Deming's career spanned several decades, where he served as an educator, consultant, and author. His pivotal work in Japan post-World War II helped lead to the nation's industrial resurgence and the adoption of quality control practices that emphasize customer satisfaction. He authored several influential books, including "Out of the Crisis" and "The New Economics for Industry, Government, and Education," which delve into his philosophies of quality management.
In terms of business investments, Deming worked with several organizations, imparting his knowledge through training and consultations that not only transformed businesses but also uplifted entire sectors. His theories have been integrated into management practices affecting countless companies globally.
Deming received a BS degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wyoming at Laramie (1921), an MS degree from the University of Colorado (1925), and a PhD from Yale University (1928). Both graduate degrees were in mathematics and physics.
He had an internship at Western Electric's Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, while studying at Yale. He later worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Census Bureau. While working under Gen.
Douglas MacArthur as a census consultant to the Japanese government, he was asked to teach a short seminar on statistical process control (SPC) methods to members of the Radio Corps, at the invitation of Homer Sarasohn.
During this visit, he was contacted by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) to talk directly to Japanese business leaders, not about SPC, but about his theories of management, returning to Japan for many years to consult.
Later, he became a professor at New York University, while engaged as an independent consultant in Washington, D.C.
Social Network
Although W. Edwards Deming was not known for contemporary social media platforms, his theories and teachings continue to inspire new generations of quality management professionals on various digital platforms. His legacy is celebrated on educational portals, business forums, and quality management communities that keep his contributions relevant. Websites dedicated to quality control and management practices regularly feature discussions and insights based on Deming's principles.
In his book The New Economics for Industry, Government, and Education Deming championed the work of Walter Shewhart, including statistical process control, operational definitions, and what Deming called the "Shewhart Cycle", which had evolved into Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA).
Deming is well known for his work in Japan after WWII, particularly his work with the leaders of Japanese industry. That work began in July and August 1950, in Tokyo and at the Hakone Convention Center, when Deming delivered speeches on what he called "Statistical Product Quality Administration".
Many in Japan credit Deming as one of the inspirations for what has become known as the Japanese post-war economic miracle of 1950 to 1960, when Japan rose from the ashes of war on the road to becoming the second-largest economy in the world through processes partially influenced by the ideas Deming taught:
Education
Deming's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wyoming, a Master's degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics from Yale University. His extensive education laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking work in statistics, process improvement, and quality management principles that continue to serve as fundamental components of modern business practices.
Deming credits a 1939 work by Shewhart for the idea and over time eventually developed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, which has the idea of deductive and inductive learning built into the learning and improvement cycle. Deming finally published the PDSA cycle in 1993, in The New Economics on p. 132.
