Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!cg-atla!bradlee From: bradlee@cg-atla.UUCP (Rob Bradlee) Newsgroups: comp.software-eng Subject: Re: Motorola vs. Intel Message-ID: <9636@cg-atla.UUCP> Date: 21 Mar 91 18:13:40 GMT References: <1991Mar12.015256.16098@ico.isc.com> <8024@rsiatl.Dixie.Com> <1991Mar16.171033.380@am.sublink.org> <15745@megatest.UUCP> Reply-To: bradlee@cg-atla.UUCP (Rob Bradlee) Organization: Agfa Compugraphic Division Lines: 36 In article <15745@megatest.UUCP> pat@megatest.UUCP (Patrick Powers) writes: > >that Motorola had been soundly trounced by Intel due to Motorola's >emphasis on quality. While Motorola delayed shipment until the part >was defect free, Intel captured the market with imperfect parts. As If I read Deming correctly then his total quality approach does NOT mean delaying shipment until zero defects are achieved. Point number 1 of his 14 points is: "Create constatncy of purpose twoard improvement of product and service, with the aim to become competitive and to stay in business, and to provide jobs." Obviously if the customer is willing to accept a certain defect rate for earlier shipment then that's what you better give him to maintain market share and stay in business. However, another key point made by Deming is that quality and productivity are NOT tradeoff. The latter comes from the former. If you can generate software in the same time as your competitor but with lower defects then you will most likely win in sales. Similary, since defect correction and testing are a major consumer of "development" time then the organization that creates fewer defects can probably bring products to market much faster than high defect rate groups. In conclusion I would say the Motorola's managers may have deserved the Baldridge prize, but the Japanese probably wouldn't have given them the Deming prize :). Rob -- Rob Bradlee w:(508)-658-5600 X5153 h:(617)-944-5595 AGFA Compugraphic Division. ...!{decvax,samsung}!cg-atla!bradlee 200 Ballardvale St. bradlee@cg-atla.agfa.com Wilmington, Mass. 01887 The Nordic Way: Ski till it hurts!