Joseph Moses Juran Management theory specialist, consultant. Date of Birth: 24.12.1904 Country: USA

1. Biography of Joseph Moses Juran
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career at Hawthorne Works
4. Marriage and Family
5. Contributions to Quality and International Influence

Biography of Joseph Moses Juran

Joseph Moses Juran was a renowned specialist in management theory and a consultant. He was most well-known as an active advocate for the pursuit of quality and management systems that prioritize quality. He has written a number of popular books on this subject.

Early Life and Education

Joseph was born into a Jewish family in Brăila, Romania. He grew up in the Romanian town of Gura Humorului. In 1912, Joseph and his family migrated to the United States and settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joseph excelled in school, particularly in mathematics. He also showed talent in playing chess. In 1920, he graduated from high school and obtained a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1924.

Career at Hawthorne Works

Shortly after earning his degree, Juran joined Western Electric's Hawthorne Works. Initially, he worked in the complaint department. In 1925, agents from Bell Labs proposed that Hawthorne Works provide training courses to employees in the relatively new field of statistical data collection and control charting. Juran was selected to work in the statistical department, where he, along with a small group of engineers, focused on studying and disseminating innovative quality control techniques. This position was particularly advantageous for Juran's career growth, as his results were visible and measurable.

Marriage and Family

In 1926, Juran married Sadie Shapiro, and they went on to have four children together – a daughter and three sons. They remained happily married for 81 years until Juran's death in 2008.

Contributions to Quality and International Influence

In 1935, Juran published his first article on quality theory. By that time, he had already obtained a second degree in law from Loyola University, motivated by the uncertainty of the Great Depression. Although he became licensed to practice law in Illinois, Juran never utilized this qualification.

During World War II, Juran worked in the administration of lend-lease and external economics. Shortly before the end of the war, he left both Western Electric and his government position to become an independent consultant. He became a professor at New York University, where he lectured on quality control and conducted seminars for top-level executives.

Juran's works unexpectedly gained international attention, particularly in Japan. At that time, Japan was undergoing a serious crisis, transitioning from a military power to an economic one. However, the reputation of producing low-quality goods hindered their progress. Juran's works helped the Japanese overcome this situation, and by the 1970s, Japanese products were highly respected. Unfortunately, this had a significant impact on the United States' position in the international arena. In turn, the Japanese assisted Juran in refining his theories, and it was in the East that he developed the concept of Quality Circles.

Juran continued his active scientific work until the late 1990s, and he only stopped traveling abroad at the age of 86. He passed away at the age of 103 due to a heart attack in Rye, New York.