The Granddaddy Of Total Quality Management(TQM) Essays

The Granddaddy of Total Quality Management(TQM): Dr. W. Edwards Deming was known as the ?Granddaddy' of total-quality-management. Total Quality Management (TQM) can provide organizations with the incentive for positive change, stirring the workforce and creating an environment that gives a company the competitive edge. To succeed, however, TQM has to be more than a catchword. If it is looked upon as a nuisance or an excuse for employees to take advantage of the employer, it won't work. TQM must become a way of corporate life. That has been the goal of Deming for over forty years. W. Edwards Deming organized a worldwide consulting practice for many years.. His clients included manufacturing companies, telephone companies, railways, carriers of motor freight, consumer researchers, census methodologists, hospitals, legal firms, government agencies, and research organizations in universities and in industry. The impact of Dr. Deming's teachings on American manufacturing and service organizations has been profound. He started changes with his TQM ideas that are improving the human resources departments around the United States. President Reagan even awarded the National Medal of Technology to Dr. Deming in 1987. He received the Distinguished Career in Science award from the National Academy of Sciences in 1988. Dr. Deming received many other awards, including the Shewhart Medal from the American Society for Quality Control in 1956 and the Samuel S. Wilks Award from the American Statistical Association in 1983. The American Statistical Association established the annual Deming Prize for improvement of quality and productivityin 1980. Dr. Deming was a member of the International Statistical Institute. He was elected in 1983 to the National Academy of Engineering, and in 1986 to the Science and Technology Hall of Fame in Dayton. He was also inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1991. Dr. Deming's numerous awards were well deserved. His education has lasted throughout his life beginning with his doctorate in mathematical physics from Yale University in 1928, in addition, he has earned honor degrees from the University of Wyoming, Rivier College, the University of Maryland, Ohio State University, Clarkson College of Technology, Miami University, George Washington University, the University of Colorado, Fordham University, the University of Alabama, Oregon State University, the American University, the University of South Carolina, Yale University, Harvard University, Cleary College, and Shenandoah University. Yale University also awarded him the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal. And Rivier College awarded to him the Madeleine of Jesus Award. A multiple of books, films, and videotapes outline his life, his theory, and the practice of his methods worldwide. Of his books, Out of Crisis and The New Economics have even been translated into many foreign languages. Dr. Deming is well known for his work in Japan, where from 1950 forward he taught top management and engineers methods for management of quality. This training helped change the economy of Japan. In recognition of his contributions, the Union of Japanese Science and Engineering (JUSE) instituted the annual Deming Prizes for achievements in quality and dependability of product, and as a result, the Emperor of Japan awarded the Second Order Medal of the Sacred Treasure to Dr. Deming in 1990. In Out of Crisis, Dr. Deming outlines his fourteen points for management. He understood that a manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. Not rank people but understand that the performance of anyone is governed largely by the area that he works in, and is the responsibility of management. Below we can see what Dr. Deming taught in his style of management. Deming's 14 Points of Management: 1. Create constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service, with the aim to become competitive and to stay in business, and to provide jobs. 2. Adopt the new philosophy. We are in a new economic age. Western management must awaken to the challenge, must learn their responsibilities, and take on leadership for change. 3. Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the need for inspection on a mass basis by building quality into the product in the first place. 4. End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag. Instead, minimize total cost. Move toward a single supplier for any one item, on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust. 5. Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service,

What You Need to Know About Returning To Work After Having a Baby

What You Need to Know About Returning To Work After Having a Baby It’s awfully hard taking a leave from work to go and have a baby. It’s even harder leaving that baby behind to go back to work- even if you love your job! So whether you’re going back for monetary necessity, or because you have to keep your place in your career, or because you love what you do, here are a few tips to help ease your transition. 1. Start childcare plans early.If you want in on a specific day care center, get on their waiting list ASAP- sometimes even before the baby is born. Either way, set up who will be caring for your child in advance of needing it. Visit the facility or meet the person in advance. Maybe even do a dry run to make sure things don’t all crash and burn the minute Mommy/Daddy leaves. Having a good, safe option that you and your family feel good about will help ease your jitters.2. Stock up on supplies.You’re going to need a bunch of supplies for whomever is taking care of your kid. Buy things like breast milk bags and nursing pads and diapers in bulk. Make a checklist of all the things your baby needs when going out of the house and make sure to pass it along to your child minder.3. Start out slowly.Don’t go right back into full time. See if you can do part-time the first week or two, just until you iron out all the kinks and get your family settled in the new routine.4. Stay in touch.It’s okay to ask for regular updates throughout the day- a quick text or photo will often do to help you keep from worrying and focus on your work. If you are the type to call in every day, go for it!5. Talk to a lactation expert.If you’re a mom who’s going to keep nursing, talk to a lactation consultant and start figuring out your pumping schedule. Make sure you’re comfortable with your system before you dive into it. Get your baby used to drinking your milk from a bottle- to make sure she takes it- especially from someone else. And make sure to have the pumping conversation with your boss so she’s best prepared to support you. Your HR department should make it very easy on you and find you somewhere private and dedicated for when you need to pump.6. Plan everything the night before.After bedtime is your best friend. Pretend like you’re back in school again: lay out your clothes, pack your lunch, prep breakfast, pack the diaper bag, get organized, etc. This time will be less harried than the morning and will also mean you get more quality time before heading off to work each day when you aren’t running mad with stress.7. Don’t take work home.Your boss should understand that you have a brand new family at home. Leave your job when you come home and don’t pick it up again until you arrive the next morning. Life is too short to be missing your already limited family time being glued to projects or emails.8. Don’t feel guilty.Work is important to sustain your family. Even if you don’t have to work for the money- m aybe your partner makes more than enough to go around- if you’re going back to work because you love your job†¦ that’s important. Either way, you’re setting a wonderful example for your kids.

Comparison of ratios over a two-year period Research Paper

Comparison of ratios over a two-year period - Research Paper Example Besides, financial ratio analysis can also be used to assess the performance of different departments and managers and how their overall performance may have an impact on the performance of the whole firm. Sparklin Automotive Company is in business since 1990 and is supplying different automotive related parts across the whole country. In order to better assess its performance for the year 2005 and 2006, a comprehensive ratio analysis is important. This will provide a critical insight into areas such as liquidity management, overall asset management, the nature and extent of firm’s debt as well as assessing the profitability during these two years. Ratio Analysis Explanation Ratio analysis is the process of calculation and comparing the ratios which have been extracted from the different financial statements. By forming the historical trends, ratio analysis can actually provide an insight into the performance as well as charm in the company to perform in the long run based on the historical data. Ratio analysis is also important from the perspective of assessing the performance of the managers and understanding as to how the organization is performing. By computing financial ratios, a firm not only compares its performance with the competitors but also get an insight into its own historical performance. Ratio analysis therefore can be used for two different purposes or in two different manners i.e. making comparisons through trend analysis and comparing the ratios with the competitors. When financial ratio analysis is used for the purpose of trend analysis, a firm or a manager can actually get an insight into how the trends in different ratios are pointing towards the performance of the firm. For example, if a manager wants to assess as to how the overall inventory has been managed through out the year, she can compute the inventory turnover ratio and days in inventory to get an insight into how the inventory of the firm has been maintained and how sales have been generated. Ratio analysis therefore provides an ability to perform objective analysis of the performance of the firm. (Bull, 2007) Ratio analysis can either be used by the firm for its own evaluation purposes so that managers can assess what is required to be done in order to improve different areas lacking in achieving the targets. Secondly, ratio analysis can also be used by the investors to not only assess the historical performance of the firm but based on this assessment make forecasts as to how the firm may perform in future. Ratio Calculation Ratio Formula 2005 2006 Current Ratio Current Assets /Current Liabilities 1.475:1 1.403:1 Debt to Equity Ratio Total Liabilities / Total Equity 0.449:0.551 0.440 : 0.56 Inventory Turnover Sales / Inventory 6.11 times 4.620 Times Receivables Turnover Sales / Receivables 18.24 times 18.16 times Gross Margin Gross Profit / Sales 49.19% 40.70% Evaluation of the Ratios Current Ratio Current ratio is one of the basic indicators for assessing the liquidity position of the firm and indicates as to whether the firm has the required liquid assets to pay off its immediate liabilities. A current ratio of higher than 1 is considered as acceptable because for ever $1 of current liabilities firm has more than $1 of current assets to settle these

Wirless22 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wirless22 - Essay Example Even though I spend most of my time at home, whenever I go out for recreation, I make it a point not to take my cell phone along. Right now I need to carry two phones: even though I do not like phones, this is the only way I can make my life easier. One phone is used for business and family only, whereas the other is for friends, school and other acquaintances. The second phone is usually turned off, unless I want to go out, and even then I mostly turn it on just to check the voice mail to check if I have any appointments (with a doctor or at school, for instance). The only times I have used text messaging is to check my bank account balance by texting at the number the bank gave to me. Even when I receive a text message to which I have to reply, I do not text back. I prefer calling up people rather than sending them text messages. The Bluetooth feature on phones is something that I do appreciate, because it enables me to connect my cell phone with my computer or other devices and transfer data easily. However, I do not believe that cell phones are a necessity. Even in emergency cases I think I can manage very well without a cell phone. I consider cell phones and email to be the worst invention of the last century. For me, cell phones are a luxury, a luxury we can very well do without. Currently, I have T-mobile and AirVoice as service providers for my two cell phones. T-mobile is expensive when compared with AirVoice: I pay 70 dollars for T-mobile and 40 dollars for AirVoice per month. On both these service providers I pay by minute along with the contract. AirVoice offers me unlimited text messaging, both domestic and international, which I do not use at all. I use prepaid plans on both; T-mobile carries the unused minutes to the next month, however AirVoice does not provide this service, the minutes end with the month, whether you have used them or not. Both AirVoice and T-mobile, being 3G, are

A History of Playing Cards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A History of Playing Cards - Essay Example Henceforth, different games were invented and the manner of playing cards evolved. In European context, the origins of playing card were thought to have come from Egypt near Mameluks. The fragments found believed to be from the 1400, consisted of 52 cards with "suits of swords, polo-sticks, cups, and coins." Each suit was composed of cards numbered 1 to 10 while three of the court cards included "malik (king), na'ib malik (Viceroy or Deputy-King), and thani na'ib (Second Under-Deputy)." When compared to early Italian cards, they appeared to be similar. Some early names given to European court cards include naibbe (Italian) and naipes (Spanish)("The Introduction of Playing-Cards to Europe"). The early Chinese playing cards were made from paper and had suits drawn with coins and strings of coins. To Mah Jong players, these are the circles and bamboo figures found in the tablets. Islam introduced cups and swords to the suit without any human figures. This could be explained by the prohibition of Islam from using representations of humans in artworks or printed material. The French were credited for designing the court personages in each suit. The King of Hearts represented Charlemagne; Julius Caesar was the king of Diamonds; Alexander the Great was the king of Clubs while King David from the Bible was identified as the King of Spades (The United States Playing Card Company). These were still used in contemporary playing cards. In the 19th century Europe, the playing card faces were transformed into mini-canvasses as many artists executed prominent figures culled from history and literature. This was referred to the 19th century phenomenon of transformation cards (The International Playing-Cards Society). The cards were an innovative form of art but were totally unusable for playing games. England was a laggard and followed the trend at a later period. The English continued to cling to traditional designs despite the developments in other parts of Europe. The Americans were credited to have invented the Joker. From the French design, the Americans in the 1800's introduced innovations to the playing card. The Americans began using "double-headed court cards for convenience and avoiding the act of turning the card right side up. The surfaces were varnished for easy shuffling and sturdier to endure wear and tear from frequent playing. The corners were rounded to avoid corner tears and identifying marks were added to the corners of each card (The United States Playing Card Company). The backs of the cards were used as promotional vehicles and sometimes depicted with famous landmarks or trends popular at a particular period. Russell and Morgan were the pioneers in the manufacture of playing cards. The Bicycle brand was born out of the popularity of the two-wheeled transportation in 1887. The company debuted with Rider Back (The United States Playing Card Company). From being an exclusive entertainment for the rich and imperial courts, card games had since evolved for ordinary people to enjoy. Social Function of Card Games When card games were introduced in medieval Europe, a royal card party was frequently played in circular tables. In the 15th century, the site of play was a circular table

Michelangelos Pietàand Leonardo Da Vincis Mona Lisa

Michelangelos Pietà   and Leonardo Da Vincis Mona Lisa The Pietà   (1498-1499) is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by the renowned artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter Basilica in Vatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was commissioned for the French cardinal Jean de Billheres, who was a representative in Rome. The statue was made for the cardinals funeral monument, but was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed (See History after completion). This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The theme is of Northern origin, popular by that time in France but not yet in Italy. Michelangelos interpretation of the Pietà   is unique to the precedents. It is an important work as it balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism. The statue is one of the most highly finished works by Michelangelo. The structure is pyramidal, and the vertex coincides with Marys head. The statue widens progressively down the drapery of Marys dress, to the base, the rock of Golgotha. The figures are quite out of proportion, owing to the difficulty of depicting a fully-grown man cradled full-length in a womans lap. Michelangelos Pieta, Figure 1.8 Much of Marys body is concealed by her monumental drapery, and the relationship of the figures appears quite natural. Michelangelos interpretation of the Pieta was far different from those previously created by other artists, as he sculpted a young and beautiful Mary rather than an older woman around 50 years of age. The marks of the Crucifixion are limited to very small nail marks and an indication of the wound in Jesus side. Christs face does not reveal signs of The Passion. Michelangelo did not want his version of The Pieta to represent death, but rather to show the religious vision of abandonment and a serene face of the Son, thus the representation of the communion between man and God by the sanctification through Christ Leonardo da Vinci in probably one of the most renowned artist in the world, in this work we will try to depict who the man is through some of his life and some of his predominate works such as The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Self Portrait. These works and the man have been analyzed and critiqued over time and we will attempt to see how his affect on us helped shape some of the art world we live in today. Da Vinci was an Italian polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of unquenchable curiosity and feverishly inventive imagination. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. According to art historian Helen Gardner, the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote. Marco Rosci points out, however, that while there is much speculation about Leonardo, his vision of the world is essentially logical rather than mysterious, and that the empirical methods he employed were unusual for his time. The Mona Lisa is a 16th-century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci during the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. The work is currently owned by the Government of France and is on display at the Musà ©e du Louvre in Paris under the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The painting is a half-length portrait and depicts a seated woman (it is almost unanimous that she is Lisa del Giocondo) whose facial expression is frequently described as enigmatic.] The ambiguity of the subjects expression, the monumentality of the composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the continuing fascination and study of the work.[1] The image is so widely recognized, caricatured, and sought out by visitors to the Louvre that it is considered the most famous painting in the world. Leonardo Da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503 or 1504 in Florence, Italy. According to Da Vincis contemporary, Giorgio Vasari, after he had lingered over it four years, left it unfinished. It is known that such behavior is common in most paintings of Leonardo who, later in his life, regretted never having completed a single work.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa He is thought to have continued to work on Mona Lisa for three years after he moved to France and to have finished it shortly before he died in 1519. Leonardo took the painting from Italy to France in 1516 when King Franà §ois I invited the painter to work at the Clos Lucà © near the kings castle in Amboise. Most likely through the heirs of Leonardos assistant Salai, the king bought the painting for 4,000 à ©cus and kept it at Chà ¢teau Fontainebleau, where it remained until given to Louis XIV. Louis XIV moved the painting to the Palace of Versailles. After the French Revolution, it was moved to the Louvre. Napoleon I had it moved to his bedroom in the Tuileries Palace; later it was returned to the Louvre. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) it was moved from the Louvre to the Brest Arsenal. There has been much speculation regarding the paintings model and landscape. For example, that Leonardo probably painted his model faithfully since her beauty is not seen as being among the best, even when measured by late Quattro cento (15th century) or even twenty-first century standards. Some art historians in Eastern art, such as Yukio Yashiro, also argue that the landscape in the background of the picture was influenced by Chinese paintings, however this thesis has been contested for lack of clear evidence.[12] Mona Lisa was not well known until the mid-19th century when artists of the emerging Symbolist movement began to appreciate it, and associated it with their ideas about feminine mystique. Critic Walter Pater, in his 1867 essay on Leonardo, expressed this view by describing the figure in the painting as a kind of mythic embodiment of eternal femininity, who is older than the rocks among which she sits and who has been dead many times and learned the secrets of the grave. The Last Supper was created when Leonardo da Vinci was already a well known artist when he created his masterpiece The Last Supper. He painted The Last Supper on the back wall of the dining hall at the Dominican convent of Sta Maria delle Grazie in Italy. The reason this painting is laid out the way it is is that Leonardo was trying to extend the room, to make it look like Jesus and his apostles were sitting at the end of the dining hall. This painting became an instant famous work of art considering the religious aspects of Christianity at the time of its painting and is considered mysterious by some people to hold hidden messages about the life of Christ and his followers. The Last painting of Da Vinci we will look at is his own Self Portrait. The portrait is drawn in red chalk on paper. It depicts the head of an elderly man in three-quarter view, turned towards the viewers right. The subject is distinguished by his long hair and long waving beard which flow over the shoulders and breast. The length of the hair and beard is uncommon in Renaissance portraits and suggests, as now, a person of sagacity. The face has a somewhat aquiline nose and is marked by deep lines on the brow and pouches below the eyes. It appears as if the man has lost his upper front teeth, causing deepening of the grooves from the nostrils. The eyes of the figure do not engage the viewer but gaze ahead, veiled by the long eyebrows, with a sense of solemnity or disillusionment. If this is indeed a self-portrait of Leonardo, his attitude may reflect the fact that by this time his career was largely behind him, and artistic fashion was beginning to leave him behind. The drawing has been drawn in fine lines, shadowed by hatching and executed with the left hand, as was Leonardos habit. The paper has brownish fox marks caused by the accumulation of iron salts due to moisture. It is housed at the Royal Library (Biblioteca Reale) in Turin, Italy, and is not generally viewable by the public due to its fragility and poor condition. This is just a small sample of the work and the life of one of the most famous if not the most famous artist in the world. All of his works have captivated the art community for centuries. This man probably shaped and influenced some of the greatest and brightest people throughout history. He is one of the most beloved artist as well he was very concentric in that it was not only art in which thing he influenced but here we will just talk about his art and how it helped shape the world of today.

Eaters Of The Dead Essay -- essays research papers

Applied Intelligence and Knowledge Conquers All In his novel, Eaters of the Dead, author Michael Crichton shows how the Volga Northmen were able to defeat their foes, the wendol, by using their intellect instead of their weapons. This is seen in four aspects. The theme of the novel is that physical courage is not enough to preserve your culture and lifestyle: intelligence and superior knowledge are absolutely essential. Conflict between the wendol and the Northmen shows which group has the intelligence to eliminate the other. Symbolism of wisdom, knowledge, and the lack of such things are used by Crichton to illustrate this moral. The juxtaposition of characters emphasizes the cleverness of the Volga Northmen compared to the Venden Northmen. The theme of the story is that applying intelligence and knowledge is essential in order to keep one’s culture alive. A good proof of this is the lack of knowledge of Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, the narrator of the story. He is an Arab who "knows nothing of the ways of the world" (p. 77) because he has never truly experienced the world before that day, since he does not care for adventure. Having no experience with the world and having no knowledge, Ibn Fadlan slowly learns the Northmen’s way of life. In the end, felt he "had been born a Northman" (p. 152), having spent much time in their company and is no longer the coward he was when he started the trip. His lack of knowledge causes him to be a coward in battle, since he will be battling frightening, mysterious creatures. A better proof of this is that the wendol acts as if they are animals, which are unintelligent. The wendol makes "a low grunting sound, like the rooting of a pig" (p. 97), "h ave hair as long as a hairy dog" (p. 99), and wear the heads of dead animals as masks. They act as if they were brainless and cannot think of ways of attack on the Northmen. The only thing they can think of when they are losing is to retreat. Their ignorance to provide more guards at the second entrance to the thunder cave give the Northmen easy access to kill their leader from the lack of defenses. The best proof of this is that the Northmen are the ones who have the knowledge and intelligence to defeat the wendol. They learn about the second entrance to the cave of thunder, where the mother of the wendol lives, a... ... from Buliwyf. He builds his settlement on a cliff and "dares the gods to strike him down," (p. 77) putting his people in danger because of his vanity, another act that leads to his downfall. Buliwyf is called upon to help and save the settlement of Venden. He leads the people of Venden to build defences, which King Rothgar was unable to do, although he is the king and should have already done so. Buliwyf is the one with the intelligence that eventually drives away the wendol. The pairing of these characters show the stupidity of the Venden royals and nobleman, which causes them so much trouble and requires the help of the Volga Northmen, who are more intelligent. The Northmen arrive at Venden as a group of thirteen and only four remain. All nine who died lost their lives in the battles of physical strength. However, when it comes to the battle of the intelligence and knowledge, all the warriors survived. The lack of intelligence and knowledge of the Venden Northmen and the wendol leads them to a devastating end. From this, it is seen that the intelligence and knowledge one has is truly more important than physical strength, for without the mind, one is useless.