Red Bead Experiment

The Red Bead Experiment is a simulation used to illustrate concepts of variation, quality control, and management processes. In this exercise, participants draw beads from a container where most are white but some are red. The goal is to produce a maximum number of white beads, but the presence of the red beads, which represent defects, is random and beyond the workers' control. This experiment highlights how external factors can affect performance and emphasizes the importance of understanding system variability rather than solely blaming individual workers for poor outcomes. It advocates for better management practices to improve quality.