Ming Li, 2017 Section Chair
I am honored to be able to serve the Quality and Productivity Section (Q&P) as its 2017 chair.
Q&P traditionally has been a section for collaboration among statisticians from universities, manufacturing industries, and government agencies. With the recent development of the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 concepts—in which advanced manufacturing technology, sensor technology, and information technology integrate with equipment and products—the section has contributed many new ideas to leverage Big Data analytics to improve quality and productivity. Meanwhile, traditional statistical methods widely used in Q&P areas such as control charts, design of experiments, and response surface methods have been adopted by many new business sectors such as ecommerce and social media. There is great opportunity for Q&P members to lead and contribute to this fast-growing trend of data-driven and analytics-backed decision making processes across many industries.
Q&P has sponsored the following three conferences and one achievement award each year:
2017 Quality and Productivity Research Conference (QPRC)
QPRC will be held at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, June 13–15, with a short course offered on June 12. The theme of this year’s conference is “Quality and Statistics: A Path to Better Life.” We invite you to contribute a talk or poster presentation. Please visit the conference site for details.
In conjunction with QPRC, the Mary G. and Joseph Natrella scholarship provides a $3,500 grant and $500 travel stipend to students pursuing full-time graduate work with demonstrated interest in quality and statistics. For more information, visit the student scholarship section on the conference site.
2017 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM)
JSM 2017 will be held from July 29 to August 3 in Baltimore, buy ativan online uk Maryland. Q&P will offer up to three travel awards of $400 each for students enrolled in a graduate program with a concentration in applied statistics and/or quality management to attend JSM. Student applicants must show a demonstrated interest in quality applications, as evidenced by coursework, research topics, or prior working experience. Applicants either presenting a paper or participating in a poster session will receive extra consideration. Applications will be accepted through February 1. Complete information about the award and how to apply is posted on the Q&P Community page.
As we get closer to JSM, stay tuned for more information about Q&P-sponsored events, including the SPES/Q&P mixer.
2017 Fall Technical Conference (FTC)
The 61st FTC will be held October 5–6 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The theme of this year’s conference is “Statistics: Powering a Revolution in Quality Improvement.” The goal of the conference is to engage researchers and practitioners in a dialog that leads to a more effective use of statistics to improve quality and foster innovation. For more information, see the conference flyer.
Gerald J. Hahn Q&P Achievement Award
Q&P sponsors the Gerald J. Hahn Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and sustained achievement and leadership in developing, promoting, and successfully improving the quality and productivity of products and organizational performance using statistical concepts and methods over a period of 20 or more years. Nominations are due February 28.
Finally, I’d like to thank all Q&P officers and volunteers whose contributions make the section-sponsored activities and conferences possible. If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to me.
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