In our second podcast in April 2017, Ed Baker, author, consultant, and former corporate director, Quality Strategy and Operations Support for the Ford Motor Company, offers insights on his latest book, The Symphony of Profound Knowledge (W. Edwards Deming’s Score for Leading, Performing, and Living in Concert).

Nearing 20 years with Ford, including the last 10+ years guiding the tactical and strategic influence of Dr. Deming’s theory of management across Ford, Ed was asked by Dr. Deming to write a book to offer his own understanding of his System of Profound Knowledge. For those who have heard Dr. Deming say "You can learn a lot about ice and know nothing about water," he credited Ed with this point of enlightenment.

Ed met recently with Tripp Babbitt to share highlights from his book (in one of Tripp’s longest interviews to date), as well as inspirations from Dr. Deming, covering topics including:

Ed’s first contact with Dr. Deming

Dr. Deming’s first visits to Ford

Ed’s role in choreographing Dr. Deming’s visits across Ford

Dr. Deming’s early impact on Ford

The pace of change within Ford under Dr. Deming’s influence

Ed’s book, Scoring a Whole in One

Deming management, TQM, Six Sigma, and Lean

Tom Johnson’s influence on his thinking

Mechanistic and random sampling

Is the map the territory?

Joy in work

Strong support for The Symphony of Profound Knowledge from Clay Mathile and the entire staff of Aileron

In addition to this podcast, link here to watch a recent interview with Ed (and here for a full-length interview), also with a focus on his book, The Symphony of Profound Knowledge. Link here to listen to a radio interview.

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