Dr Juran's 100th Birthday celebration

Dr Juran 100th Birthday – Celebration 6th May 2004

Presentation by David Hutchins

On tidying up my files I have just found this which some might find interesting.

Dr Juran, distinguished guests, fellow Quality Professionals, I feel that it is a great honour for me to have been invited to make this short speech on so unique an occasion.

I have never been in the same room as someone 100 years old before, let alone been given the awesome opportunity to say a few words.

What can I say that has not already been said before and that will be different from the other speakers today?

I thought I would share one or two anecdotes that colour my experience of working with Dr Juran in the UK.

First of all, a bit of history. 2. Dealing with a difficult student and 3. A bit more history. The first dates back to the first Facilitator/ Leader course for UK Companies who had purchased the Juran on Quality Improvement tapes from my organisation.  

There were just 9 companies represented on that occasion and the event was held in the Waldorf Hotel in Aldwich, off the Strand in London. I can be sure that it was 31st October 1984 because the hotel is immediately opposite the Indian Embassy and no doubt, you will recall that this was the day upon which Mrs Gandhi, the Indian Premier was tragically assassinated. The news reached the UK at around 09.00am  but we were unaware of it until we broke for lunch, and by that time, many politicians and other dignitaries were arriving to pay their respects.

At around 3.00pm, whilst Dr Juran was talking, a lot of shouting began in the street below. This gradually became louder and very distracting. I looked out of the window and was horrified to see a large procession of Turbanised Indians coming down the street waving banners and chanting at the Embassy. I did not know what they were trying to do but my immediate thought was for the safety of Dr Juran. Surely the crowds would grow larger as people came home from work? What if fighting broke out? How was I to get him away from the Hotel? I even went to check for back exits from the building.

At this point Dr Juran became aware that probably for one of the very few times in his life he did not have the full attention of his audience. In his indomitable style he quietly said ‘look, if I give the word, hit the deck, otherwise we carry on with the work! An amazing character! Immediately, everyone in the room lost interest in what was happening outside the window and settled down.

Interestingly, about 30 minutes later, I noticed that it had gone very quiet outside… I looked out of the window and incredibly, life had returned completely to normal. I never did find out what happened, maybe it was Renta Crowd? To make good viewing on the TV News that night, but at least for me I had no worries about getting Dr Juran out of there.

A second memory was on the occasion of a subsequent Juran on Managing for Quality Course. At one point, following Dr Juran’s explanation of the Cost of Poor Quality, a participant rose to his feet and said ‘Dr Juran, in my company I know that Quality Related Costs are more than 30% of Sales. I have made this known to both the Managing Director and in fact all of the Management Team, but they will not do anything about it, what do you suggest? Dr Juran simply said, ‘Pray that things get worse’.

My final remark is not so much an anecdote but something that I think will interest Dr Juran.

At yet another of the Managing for Quality events in London, on that particular afternoon, Dr Juran had told the story about Dr John Snow and his discovery of the link between Cholera and water by removing the handle of the pump in Broad Street Soho which proved to be the centre of a serious outbreak in which over 600 people died in just a week.

The following day, a participant said that he had discovered that whilst the Street was now called Broadwick Street, the site of the pump is marked with a red kerbstone and there is a plaque on the wall of a nearby public house to explain its significance.

The pub is called John Snow and on its inside walls was the entire history of the event including the names of all the people who died. Following that discovery, it became a popular place for Juran Institute visitors to London and I enjoyed acting as the tour guide!

Unfortunately, a few years ago, the pub changed hands, the new owner had no sense of history and all that remains is the plaque on the wall, the kerbstone, and the name. The inside of the pub is now furnished with red plastic and the history obliterated with fresh paint.

Dr Juran, those years were the best in the whole of my working life and on behalf of myself, Brian Tilley and the support staff that we had in those days, I thank you most sincerely for giving us the opportunity to work with you and learn so much.

May God bless you and Mrs Juran with many more years of good health and happiness. Thank you.