Employees must not be afraid to speak up - they're giving free advice from someone who knows the firm's manufacturing process, as well as the personal strengths and weaknesses of the firm's workforce. Workers should be encouraged to innovate and make suggestions for improving quality. In most cases, Deming observed, they are actively discouraged. Deming observed many situations where dramatic gains in productivity were realized just by explaining to workers what was expected from them. Typically, for every bad worker a firm hires, 10-20 good workers have been excluded from consideration for the same job.
Management is the leading cause of low productivity.
Deming said workers account for no more than five to ten percent. Robert F. Mulligan is visiting assistant professor of economics, finance, and international business in the College of Business at Western Carolina University. His research interests are monetary and international economics and he is a fierce fan of the Asheville Smoke.