All I can say is WOW! I have just returned from the 2010 Deming Conference, held this year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The conference runs from Friday evening until Sunday morning, ending with about 50 pizzas being devoured by the hungry participants. Starting Friday night from 6 pm until about 9 pm there is a reception for the attendees, held this year at the posh Campus Inn Hotel.
I spent several hours getting reacquainted with people from all over the world while enjoying the outstanding food.
Saturday at the conference is a long day. Breakfast is served from 8 am until we start around 8:30. The initial gathering was held in an amphitheater capable of seating 300 so the attendees left few empty seats.
I must comment on the site for the bulk of the conference. The Rackham Building is one of the oldest buildings on campus, having been endowed to the university by John Rackham, an early investor of the Ford Motor Company.
It was in the basement laboratory of this building that the Salk Vaccine was developed, ending the terror of Polio for millions.
Dr. Deming insisted that there were two main objectives. To learn, and to have fun. I did both at this, my fourth Deming Conference.
The keynote speaker on Sunday was Donald Peterson, retired president of Ford Motor Company.
I took Mr. Peterson’s book with me to the conference and was able to get an autograph to go with this picture.