Editor’s note: The following is from a transcript of a forgotten speech given in Tokyo in 1978 by W. Edwards Deming for the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE). Because the original was a poor photocopy, there are small portions of text that could not be transcribed. Transcript courtesy of Mike McLean.

The spectacular leap in quality of most Japanese manufactured products, from third-rate to top quality and dependability, with astounding economy in production, started off in 1950 with a meteoric flash, and still continues. The whole world knows about Japanese quality and the sudden surge upward that began in 1950, but few people have any idea how it happened.

It seems worthwhile to collect in one place the statistical principles of administration that made possible the revolution of quality in Japan, as even at this date, most of these principles are not generally understood or practiced in America. It is for this reason that the title speaks of new principles.

The relative importance of some of the principles explained here have of course changed over the years since 1950. Some principles stated here have emerged as corollaries of earlier principles. Other corollaries could be added, almost without end.

 …