Red Bead Experiment Part 1

The "Red Bead Experiment" was an interactive teaching tool of Dr. Edward Deming. In the experiment, a corporation is formed from "willing workers", quality control personnel, a data recorder, and a foreman. The corporation's product is white beads, which are produced by dipping a paddle into a supply of beads. The paddle has 50 holes in it, and each hole will hold one bead. Unfortunately, there are not only white beads in the bead supply, but some defective red beads. The production of the beads is strictly controlled by an approved procedure.

Various techniques are used to ensure a quality (no red bead) product. There are quality control inspectors, feedback to the workers, merit pay for superior performance, performance appraisals, procedure compliance, posters and quality programs. The foreman, quality control, and the workers all put forth their best efforts to produce a quality product. The experiment allows the demonstration of the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of the various methods. Some humor is also included along the way.

Describing the Red Bead Experiment has all the dangers of writing a good movie review. One does not want to give out the complete plot line in the description. Suffice it to say that at the end of the experiment, a Statistical Process Control chart is utilized to examine the results of the experiment. What is discovered is that several of the actions taken (which are commonly seen every day in the workplace) were detrimental to the employees and the workplace, and had no improving effect on the process. The concluding comments point out the hazards of misuse of performance data, and how to properly use performance data in a quality environment in order to achieve continual improvement.

Presentation by: Steve Prevette

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Edward Demming
• Dr. Demming
• Red Bead Experiment
• Statistical Process
• Control chart
• C-charts
• Steve Prevette
• Fluor Hanford
• Department of Energy

[TheKarizzable]

Incredible act of ventriloquism! but he also moves the mouth when he is not speaking... terrible lag and what year was this filmed? God! so boring D:! don't blame me, my teacher make me see it X_X

[bluedodgemann16]

The lag is real annoying. The audio is out of sync.

[mozure]

I was there antistalinist, and I'm management. You obviously are much more productive... spending your time in a worthy effort! A professional critic of something you know absolutely nothing about.

[AntiStalinist]

The lack of enthusiasm with this group may be inherent in over worked and under compensated factory workers. But my experience tells me they are hung over and sleepy from a 'day off' at seminar.

It's a shame they don't show more motivation to learn since their employer is likely paying 100 dollars per trainee, not to mention time lost being away from production.

One has to wonder whether or not the sales people and top mgmt made it to this seminar. If not then, double shame and muda (muda).