Succeeding with Quality is like succeeding with a Diet - an analogy

[gpainter]

Very good comparison!! I am going to pass this out during my quality meeting, if that is okay?

[Tim Folkerts]

I have no problem with people making copies or handing out sets of free copies. I don't want people selling copies, but otherwise, the more the merrier.

I did notice that I never put my name within the article anywhere. I would appreciate it if you could add "by Timothy Folkerts" to the copies you make.

Perhaps I ought to post a revised version. If anyone has noticed any particular typos, awkward sentences, etc, you could PM me or send an email. In a day or two I'll try to post a revised version with correction, additions, AND my name.

Tim F

[Ettore]

I'm starting to think about health too. May be because I'm 43 too.

In Reply to Parent Post by Tim Folkerts

Now it seems that just about every time I check in at the Cove I find another thread where this analogy fits. They are both about improvement and health and eliminating bad habits.

Is this some of links which you have referred above?

http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=16089 (Does the health of the employees reflect the health of the Quality Management System?)
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=10742 (Smoking and other health considerations on the job)
http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=12360 (Zero Defects - Can anybody Help me to compile the diagram?)

http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=12477 (A Good Diet and Exercise Plan)

[Tim Folkerts]

I submitted a slightly modified version of this paper to "Quality Progress". For the time being, I have removed the link to the paper to simplify any copyright issues. If anyone is interested, I can email a copy to you directly. If QP likes it, then you can read it there in the not too distant future; if they don't like it, I'll put it back here.

Tim F

[Sambasi]

I was amazed by Mr.Timothy Folkerts's imagination and comparison in his "Quality-Diet Analogy" .

I was then thinking what other similar analogy could be made with "Quality"?

The first thing that came to my mind was "Quality-God/Religion Analogy". Some thoughts supporting this analogy:-

1)Both "Quality" and "God" are eluding human mind;thus their true definitions.
2)People belive in God as well in Quality.
3)We know from the history books that men/women seem to have created both "religion" and "work of art" simultiously.(The 'work of art' was the starting point for quality).
4)Many Quality Gurus and Religious Gurus have appeared often and contribute enormously for the improvement of society.
5)Some fortunate(!) Gurus make a lot of money out of people's lack of understanding (of quality or religion).
6)Many Quality concepts and Religious concepts emerge from time to time.Most of the concepts seem to focus on secondary details or peripheral aspects of religion or quality.When some of the concepts do not work (or worked overtime),the Religious/Quality gurus switch over to newer concepts.

The big difference is that unlike religious-fights,there are no quality-fights.

Regards.

[dinselong]

Ladies & Gentlemen,
Can anyone show me said paper?
Cheers

[Tim Folkerts]

Since the thread came up again, let me announce that I heard a couple weeks ago that Quality Progress will be publishing a revised version of the paper - thanks to those who provided feedback for this new, improved version.

They haven't decided on a date - there wasn't enough lead time to make this October for the "Career Development—Leadership, Change Management, Certification" theme; so it might not be until June for the "Basic Quality" theme. Or they may just add it in some other month.

I just emailed QP about copyright issues and got a rather rapid response. (ASQ is usually quite good about customer interaction!) They understandably don't want the article available from other sources if they are going to publish it. For now, I will send a synopsis to anyone who is interested. Once it is published, it should be available from QP, or I should have permission to share the article directly (with all the appropriate credits to QP and appropriate copyright statements).



Tim F

[qualityboi]

I am interested in the synopsis. I used to be an ASQ member but not anymore. I regularly make the cut and dry analogy to dieting and quality related activities. The book Good to Great by Collins backs me up on this and it can be all summed up in to one word...Discipline...any diet or quality program will work fine as long as the company has ingrained discipline to follow those programs without waivering.