Welcome to the Edwards Deming French Association Web Pages

First of all, why such an Association ?

When Jean-Marie Gogue first met with Doctor Deming, this last one was not yet famous in his own country. Even though, he was totally unknown and only the Japans recognized him for the creator of the most unique management system.

In 1989, when Jean-Marie Gogue founded the French Deming Association (AFED) and invited Dr. W. Edwards Deming in France, at the same time that the US discovered who he was, thank to a TV show on the Japanese industrial incredible success, he was truly convinced that France and the French community could benefit from these theories. And, as Dr. Deming reinforced it many times, it is not about competition but cooperation. It is why an association without financial objective is the perfect place to promote these tools for the largest number of people.

At the same time, it is not about miracle solution and nothing comes free and easy. We have already paid too much for these gurus preaching for their “do as I say” which mainly do good to their wealth and nothing or bad to their customers’ situation.

And nothing comes free and easy because, after a first feeling of being so obvious, the one who starts studying Deming’s ideas quickly understands that it will take time and that practice will be tough under day to day pressure. But it is not about money and if you need to pay, you will pay thru the difficulties to apprehend the concepts which will shake you up; it will be by taking the risk to accept that one may have been wrong from time to time, or often.

We do not offer the easy way and patch ideas whatever is your problem.

We do not offer to act for you because we do have the experience.

We do not want to be paid.

We do offer theories that you will need to study and understand with some persons’ help for whom cooperation is more important than competition.

We do offer to share your problems with other people like you because we all have the same troubles.

We do offer the opportunity for your organization and the French community to progress because we truly believe of the great potential of our country.

As members of the AFED, we have been lucky to meet someone who introduced us to Shewhart and Deming’s ideas and our wish is to share it with everyone. Our target is modest and a real challenge. It is to convince you that you can do better within your organization and, at the same time, preserve the most important, the well being of those around you. It is also to have your participation to our association.

Joining us, you will help the AFED and its mission to be known.

Philippe Pellerin