Why Deming Matters in Food Services

When it comes to Deming, I have noticed that there are three categories. Firstly, they are superfans like me; secondly, they have heard of him but don't know why he matters; and thirdly, they have never heard of him. According to my conversations, most people I meet fall into the second category. Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge covers his life and learning journey. I thought a "Why Deming Matters" series in different industries would be a helpful way to educate people about his management philosophy.

Deming and Food Services

Deming's ideas and principles can increase success and quality improvement in the food service industry. Continuous improvement, quality control, customer focus, employee involvement, and leadership can help food service companies create a culture of excellence and deliver high-quality products and services to their customers. In food services, Deming matters for the following reasons:

Continuous improvement

The Deming cycle of continuous improvement, also known as the PDSA cycle (Plan, Do, Study, Act), can be applied to the food service industry to identify areas for improvement.

Quality control

As a result of Deming's focus on quality control, food service companies can ensure that their products and services meet or exceed customers' expectations. This includes analyzing manufacturing processes, implementing food safety programs, and monitoring food handling practices.

Customer focus

It can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty in the food service industry by applying Deming's emphasis on understanding and meeting customer needs. These activities are gathering customer feedback, analyzing customer preferences, and tailoring products and services to meet customer needs.

Employee involvement

According to Deming, employees should be empowered to make changes and be involved in the improvement process. This can be applied to the food service industry by encouraging employee feedback, providing training and development opportunities, and recognizing and rewarding employee achievement.

Leadership

To drive quality improvement, Deming believed that effective leadership is essential. Providing clear direction and goals, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, and empowering employees can achieve this in the food service industry.