Red Bead Experiment
Click here to download the pdf flyer (45K).
Steve Prevette, CQE, Statistician
February 3, 2009 at the Richland, WA, Shilo Inn
The "Red Bead Experiment" is an interactive teaching tool that Dr. W. Edwards Deming made use of in his four-day seminars. 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 also 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.
If you have not experienced the Red Bead Experiment, we won't say too much here, because it is something you really need to see for yourself. At the end of the experiment, a Statistical Process Control chart is utilized to examine the results of the experiment. We will discover which actions taken (many of which are commonly seen every day in the workplace) were helpful -- or detrimental -- to the employees and the workplace, or 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.
About the presenter
Steve Prevette is a statistician for Fluor Government Group. He has been an instructor for evening courses at the City University Richland site. Steve is an advocate of the use of Dr. Deming's management theories, Systems Thinking, and Statistical Process Control. He has been active in Section 614 since 1999, and served five years as Section Chair. Steve has authored several articles in Quality Progress. Prior to coming to Hanford, he was an officer in the US Navy submarine force.
Logistics
Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock, Richland, WA
5:30 p.m. - Check in and networking. No-host bar service.
6:00 p.m. - Dinner
7:00 p.m. - Presentation
8:00 p.m. - Adjourn
Cost $17 members/$20 non-members/$5 presentation only
Reservations are requested by January 29. Please send an e-mail to Alvin Langstaff with your name, phone number, company affiliation, and type of reservation. Or call Alvin at (509) 371-2221.
NOTE: All no-shows will be billed unless canceled 48 hours in advance.
