Dear Editor:
William Edwards Deming was an American engineer, statistician, professor, author, lecturer and management consultant. His methods helped hasten Japan’s recovery after World War II and beyond. He derived the first philosophy and method that allowed individuals and organizations to plan, and continually improve themselves, their relationships, processes, products and services.
He is considered by most to be the father of the lean movement in the United States, a widely used efficiency methodology that continues to gain more traction every day. One of his many quotes that I really like is:
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”
Providence Business News on April 29 published a cover story entitled, “Nearly All of What Rhode Islander’s Eat is Produced Elsewhere. Should We Care?” I think we should!
There are three product areas, possibly four, that actually add value to an economy; manufacturing, farming and mining. The fourth, which has been often debated, is software. Nonetheless, Rhode Island is weak in all four, thereby compromising our economy.
I have always remembered Deming’s quote because data, provided from enough qualified sources, will take much of the bias out of key objective decision-making for any organization, including a state or municipality.
The negative data on Rhode Island, and its capital city, keeps piling up at an alarming rate. Our new governor has stated often that, “We are moving Rhode Island forward.” Perhaps my definition of moving forward is different from that of the governor.
If a state does not have a strong, value-added sector, it will be relegated to be a service economy, and jobs that occupy those positions are usually lower on the pay scale. With R.I.’s population actually shrinking (one of two states), the average overall pay of those that remain is rising at a lower rate than state and city budgets.
Unless there is a change in our state’s culture, it seems that a fiscal cliff is looming, if not unavoidable. If leaders are really concerned about the future of Rhode Island, their approach appears to be counter-intuitive in the face of compelling data. This is not the negative “voice of no” speaking. The mountain of data speaks for itself.
Larry Girouard
president of The Business Avionix Co.
