HOMER M SARASOHN

“A LEADER’s main

obligation is to secure the

faith and respect of those

under him. The leader

must himself be the finest

example of what he would example of what he would

like to see in his

followers.”

Presentation by

Soubhagya PJ

Prof. Nimal C Namboodiripad

SARASOHN - A short life history� Born in 1916 in the USA.

� Took graduation in physics and worked for MIC Radio

Laboratory, designing radio transmitters.

� During second world war, served as a paratrooper.

� In 1946, was invited to Tokyo for rebuilding the � In 1946, was invited to Tokyo for rebuilding the

communication infrastructure of Japan.

� Was successful in modernizing Japanese industry.

� Returned back to U.S. in 1950.

� Died on 28 September 2001 at the age of 85.

A glance at his career life…� Before coming to Japan

� Raytheon manufacturing company in Waltham.

� MIT Radiation Lab .

� In Japan

� Chief of Industry Branch - The Civil Communication Section.� Chief of Industry Branch - The Civil Communication Section.

� After returning from Japan

� Technical Advisor to the U.S Asst. Secretary for S&T.

� Member of U.S delegation to Soviet Union and Egypt.

� President of Engg.Management Society.

� Director of Engg Communication - IBM.

� Divisional Director - IEEE.

Father of Japanese Electronics IndustryMr. Sarasohn was only 29 when General Douglas MacArthur,

Head of the Occupation Forces in Japan, summoned him to

Tokyo to restore Japan’s communication industry following its

destruction during World War II.

From 1946 to 1950 was Chief of the Industry Branch -

Occupation Army’s Civil Communication Section [CCS], Occupation Army’s Civil Communication Section [CCS],

Mr.Sarasohn took the lead in helping Japan rebuild its capacity to

manufacture radio, telephone and telegraph equipment and

to assure the reliable quality of its industrial production.

All these were made possible by the CCS Management Seminar

in Tokyo and Osaka conducted by Mr.Sarasohn and Mr.Charles

Protzman.

The CCS Management Seminar covered a systems approach to

manufacturing, integrating customer satisfaction into continued

product development.The seminars taught industrial

engineering, cost control and the value of investing in R&D.

Quality, the managers were taught, is a measure of the

worthiness of the companies . The main stress of the course

CCS Management Seminar

worthiness of the companies . The main stress of the course

was on quality.

The CCS Management Seminar was given for the next 25 years

by the Japan Management Association, after both men left

Japan in 1950.

Their text book, Fundamentals of Industrial Management is still

in print in Japan.

Why haven’t we heard much of poor

old Homer?

Because of the American quality guru W.Edwards Deming, a

master of self-promotion, who was brought to Japan to

continue the work of Sarasohn and Protzman. While Sarsohn continue the work of Sarasohn and Protzman. While Sarsohn

was MacArthur’s man, Deming was perceived as the Japan

Union of Scientists and Engineer’s man, which helped ensure

his place in history.

To conclude…

The Japanese electronics industry was born again,

switching from maximizing production to maximizing

yield. It has been understood in a way that the

industry never had before the significance of Homer industry never had before the significance of Homer

Sarasohn’s lessons in product quality. Homer was

preaching it in 1948, but the Japanese electronic

industry better understood it only in 1968.

The modern industry should be really grateful

to Mr.Homer Sarasohn.

Thank YouThank You

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Sarasohn