2. Staying on course for the mission

For Deming, your organization's mission is the key to improving your system. Taking the time to define this mission is the prerequisite to establishing your strategy. It's what will set you apart from your competitors, motivate your employees and establish fruitful relationships with your key suppliers and customers.

Deming recommends defining the mission in terms of service or overall contribution to customers or the company, rather than focusing on current products or services. This makes it easier to prepare for future changes in market demands, and to mobilize teams and suppliers around a more motivating long-term vision.

To do this, we develop a long-term action plan, in line with the mission we have defined.