Re: Info

[Sinte@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/16/03 3:25:24 AM Central Daylight Time, 
richard.bell@hp.com writes:


> But what became quite amazing for me: during these presentations the
> audience reaction showed that many statisticians present aren't
> acquainted with Deming's theory of variability.
> 
> What do you think: is this by chance or regularity?

I'm following this thread with interest.  Has the absence of statistical 
thinking always been the case in academic statistics classes?  If so, why did Dr. 
Deming say that one should have a statistician on their staff if they could 
not use what they knew in applied statistics such as we use in quality?  At 
Tarrant County College, our Statistical Process Control course can not be included 
in the Math department because it is not considered an academic course in the 
sense that it meets state requirements for such and the Math department will 
not teach Statistical Process Control because they don't know what it is and 
there is no State equivalent recognized.  I do know that our quality students 
often take the statistical process control course and then substitute the Math 
stat course for their algebra and they do much better in the academic 
statistics class because of their background in SPC.  

The American Society for Quality statistics division is addressing this issue 
and working to unite the applied and academic statistics issues but it is not 
happening in the academic world to my knowledge.  SPC should be a requirement 
in any engineering program and any business degree program. Unfortunately, 
when we were looking at incorporating the Quality program at TCC with the 
business/management program, the scholars in the buisness/management program could 
not be convinced that Quality Management was legitimate management, rather it 
was a technical program.  The merger did not happen. In fact, the 
business/management degree does not even have a quality course required in their program at 
all even after several requests.  Quality is viewed as another world, off and 
apart from business management.  My students who take a business or 
management course come back to me to explain their frustration about professor's lack 
of knowledge and ability to expand on what is discussed about quality and Dr. 
Deming in their texts.  They are told that Dr. Deming is the Father of TQM. 

Linda Ortberg
Quality Program Coordinator
Tarrant County College
and
LeadingEducation.com Inc.