Message from the Chair

Mark Bailey, SAS Institute

We had a wonderful, busy year in the Quality and Productivity Section. In addition to the successful Joint Research Conference, Joint Statistical Meetings, and Fall Technical Conference, we were able to increase our support of student members through conference-related scholarships, start a student competition, investigate a new Q&P student internship program, and reinstate the Q&P webinar program.

Our new student competition on process improvement is under way. It is based on a computer simulation of a production process. Student teams will design experiments, run the simulator, and analyze their data. The winner will present their project at the 2011 Joint Statistical Meetings in August. Read the detailed announcement.

We are investigating the possibility of student internships with our section. Interns would assist with the activities of some of the section offices. The committee would benefit from the added energy, enthusiasm, and ideas of our young members. The students would benefit from the exposure to the workings of the national organization and the start of a personal network of professional statisticians.

Past chair Connie Borror began an important webinar program several years ago. We identified a new steward this year for this program: Ananda Jayawardhana of Pittsburgh State University. Ananda’s experience, creativity, and excitement about education ensure more exceptional webinars in the future.

Work toward our plans for next year is well under way. The 2011 Quality and Productivity Research Conference (QPRC) will be hosted by Virginia Tech in Roanoke, Virginia, from June 7–10. More information is on our website, as well as important information about the Mary G. and Joseph Natrella Scholarship for graduate students.

We will sponsor invited, topic-contributed, and contributed sessions; roundtables; short courses; and, of course, our popular joint mixer with the Section on Physical and Engineering Sciences at the 2011 Joint Statistical Meetings in Miami Beach, Florida, from July 30 to August 4.

The 55th Fall Technical Conference (FTC) will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, from October 13–14. Read the call for papers.

I want to thank all the members of this section for your attention and good ideas. Your contribution of time, effort, and creativity keeps the section moving forward. I especially want to thank members of the extended Q&P executive committee for their seemingly endless “over the top” attitude and commitment.