In April 1989, the first Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence had just been awarded at Utah State University. Shigeo Shingo was on hand at this auspicious event to receive an honorary doctoral degree from the university and also to bestow his name on the prize. I had the honor of meeting and speaking with Shingo on this occasion, and invited him to visit my company, United Electric (UE), if he ever was in Massachusetts. I really had no expectation that this would ever occur. To my amazement, however, he did happen to “be in the area” shortly after the Utah conference, visiting his publisher, and took this opportunity to pay a short visit.

 …