Elon Musk and DOGE are using "Systems Thinking" to find waste.

Dr. Shewhart and Dr. Deming were right, and Elon Musk and his DOGE team are proving it with their systematic efforts to audit and review governmental process for inefficient and ineffective processes for waste.

In an effort to slash government spending, President Trump has asked the world’s richest (and I would say the most innovative) man, Tesla, Twitter, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). https://dogegov.com/

In the 1930s   - Dr. Shewhart said “Changes that result in improvement come from application of knowledge.”

In the 1950s - Dr. Deming said, “Change comes from outside the system.”

I would also urge you to read and study the teachings of Dr. Russell Ackoff when it comes to systems thinking. https://thesystemsthinker.com/a-lifetime-of-systems-thinking/

True and Lasting change often comes from outside the system and Elon Musk not being from Washington is the perfect person with his intelligence and resources to eliminate waste within the processes of our governmental departments. He understands that you need to examine the process/system from end-o-end and implement measures throughout the process/system to identify areas of concerns and problems and stop them upfront in the process/system. One identified you can improve or eliminate the waste or problem.

For more info on 
Sytems Thinking click here: https://qualityg.blogspot.com/search?q=systems+thinking

Ford Motor Com. - More Recalls - Ford needs to reimplement Dr. Demings Teachings and Principles on Quality!

1/23/2025 - More Recalls

Ford is recalling over 272,000 Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years and Maverick pickup trucks from the 2022 through 2023 model years. These vehicles have defective batteries that could suddenly fail while the SUV or pickup is in use. The batteries were made in China!!

1/11/2025 - Original update

Ford Motor Company needs to reimplement Dr. Demings Teachings and Principles on Quality!

 I have owned six different Ford vehicles over the past 20 years. The quality of the vehicles has gotten worse over the past five years. In fact, Ford leads all car manufactures in recalls.

In 2024, Ford ranked 2nd in Recalls. https://fordauthority.com/2024/12/ford-ranked-second-for-most-issued-recalls-of-2024/

This article was just published 1/8/25 - https://www.motorbiscuit.com/ford-recalls-f-super-duty-other-suvs-cars/

I personally have had three experiences (Recall - Power Module and Battery) this year with problems on my 2022 Ford Edge (I love the Edge and terribly disappointed that Ford will no longer make this model). My dealership is swamped with Ford Escapes (Including Hybrid), Mavericks, F -Series Trucks and Edges with many recent recalls in the past 2 months. Getting an appointment takes weeks if not months. P/S - My rear lift hatch closes on its own. I brought it in two times, and they say its fixed. I say it's not,

This has led me to remember back in the 1980's when Ford Motor company had Dr. Deming help them with their Quality efforts. 

Ford Motor Company called upon Dr. Deming to help. According to Don Petersen, former CEO and board chairman of Ford, Deming's approach was the key to the turnaround in the fortunes of Ford. Waste was reduced, labor relations improved, customer satisfaction increased, and Ford was able to stay in business and compete again. Petersen is unequivocal about the basis for Ford's success: "People want to do a good job. Dr. Deming's ideas and concepts, as we got them going through our system, gave people more and more this feeling that they had a better chance to do a good job. The rate of improvement, in many ways, was much greater than anything we could anticipate."

Many Deming disciples from Ford Motor Company began distinguished quality careers based on the teachings of Dr. Dr, Deming. Most notably was Dr. Edward Baker. Perhaps it's time to bring him back!

https://deming.org/our-team/edward-martin-baker/

It's time Ford Motor company management reevaluate their Quality Principles and begin to implement for an end-to-end perspective. 

Management owns the system. For more on Dr. Deming please read - https://qualityg.blogspot.com/search/label/Dr%20W.Edwards%20Deming

Students need their teachers full-time in their classrooms

1/23/2025 - I have written about this problem numerous times. Two of my teacher friends and one friend who is a substitute teacher told me since the return from two weeks off for the Holidays they have yet to spend a full week in the classroom. My substitute friend has work over 10 days filling in for teachers who are again testing for reading skills, attending IEP meetings and a teacher conference.

Students need their teachers full-time in their classrooms as much as possible. Subjects like Math and Reading need continuity learning so the material can be learned and retained. Most importantly, the teacher understands his/her students the best and can supply situational learning instead of a substitute who monitor's a study/work lesson. Continuity learning is most critical for elementary and Middle School students.

2024 - I have been concerned about Elementary and Grade school testing for many years. The Pandemic only compounded my fears, and we have lost so many students that cannot read, write or do math at grade level.

In order to compensate these facts schools are now doing one one-on-one testing by a teacher to each student to see where they are slotted in the learning curve.

While this sounds right it is causing a much deeper problem upstream in the process. I have three friends in three different local school districts where this is taking place. It has been going on for weeks.

In order for the teacher to do one-on-one testing a large number of subs are required to be in the classroom while the teacher is out testing. The Subs have been working every day since school started in September. So, who is teaching the fundamentals to the children while the teacher is out of the room? Most Subs are classroom monitors at best and don't have the backgrounds for teaching. The State of Michigan requires any substitute teacher candidate to complete 60 credit hours in any subject area from a four-year college or university.

This reminds me of when corporations do Quality Testing and Control after the product is made or well downstream in the process to do any good. Teachers MUST be in the classroom. Find an outside tutor(s) or retired teacher(s) to do the testing. School children need continual learning to grasp concepts from a qualified teacher and to bond as a unit with their teachers.

Some might say this is too expensive to hire tutors or retired teachers. Do you have any idea how much a Sub makes per day (In Michigan - $170 - $250 depending on District.)? Pay the tutors and retired teachers the same as a sub and get the teacher back in classroom full time.

While the current method seems plausible it is really putting children farther behind. Two SUBS have been asked to be a full-time sub for the school year. While both have degrees, they are not certified to be a teacher. One teacher told me she has to do the testing because subs are not certified to do the testing. Well, they are not certified to teach either!

I would be willing to bet many parents are not aware this is even happening. 

A "Message" for new Members in Congress

I created this Quote back in the early 1980s. One cannot be a Leader without both expressions working together not apart. Political Leaders especially must lead in this manner for the benefit of all. 

2024 was a major disappointment for National Political Leaders. My hope is there are some new leaders elected to Congress https://thehill.com/new-members-guide-2025/ that will serve their country and constituents and follow their conscience and not their political party. 

I did some traveling over the holidays and as I waited and snaked through the long lines of security, I had a thought that I would rather be inconvenienced than to have a dangerous situation occur on the plane. Then I thought about the southern border and how many "ILLEGAL" people are entering the country. How can we allow the borders to be so unsecured and the tons of Fentanyl entering our country and killing so many young people. 

So, Be Humble, Be Confident. Otherwise, you're