On Tuesday May 16 , the Knoxville section of
the American Society for Quality (ASQ) will hold its regular monthly meeting at the Radio Systems Corporation, 10427 Petsafe Way, Knoxville, TN 37932. The event begins with dinner at 6:00, followed by the program at 7:00.
The American Society for Quality (ASQ) defines quality as "the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy given needs".
To that end, we need data and data come from some method of measuring, whether quantitative or qualitative. These methods, or processes, include the use of gauges or other instruments as well as visual observations. All measurement processes have some amount of variation and the overriding question is: “Are the data we use “good enough” to make decisions about product or service quality?”
Measurement Studies, including Gauge R&R and Evaluating the Measurement Process are specifically designed to answer this question. These studies are essential tools for quality professionals. Regardless of how critical data are to making quality decisions, my experience has been a mixed bag of measurement studies done incorrectly, misinterpretations of the results, and the use of questionable software (commercial or home grown). Such activities waste time and money without a positive contribution to the quality of products and services.
About the Speaker
Dr. Sophronia (Frony) Ward is a statistician with 7 years experience teaching at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN and 42 years of experience applying statistical techniques in business and industry. Since 1981 she has partnered with numerous companies to use the statistical methods developed and promoted by Walter Shewhart and W Edwards Deming to achieve predictable production processes whose outputs meet customer requirements. In addition, her work included designing experiments across a variety of applications in process industries and component manufacturing.
Frony has engaged in consulting, coaching, facilitating and training with all levels of organizations in the U.S. as well as Central and South America, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Australia. Dr. Ward has a Ph.D. in statistics and taught statistics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she was one of four founders of The Institute of Productivity Through Quality. The Institute was dedicated to bringing the philosophy, insights and methodologies of process improvement developed by Dr. Walter A. Shewhart and Dr. W. Edwards Deming to a wider audience. Today, she integrates the techniques and methodologies of Statistical Process Control (SPC) with Six Sigma and Lean to improve the quality of a company’s products and services.
Dr. Ward has experience in team facilitation and leadership and is certified in SYMLOGTM and the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorTM. Dr. Ward’s publications include SPC: Getting Started, a monthly column called “Brain Teasers” which led to the book Quality Brain Teasers: Real-World Challenges to Build your Manufacturing Skills (Volume 1). She co-authored Using Lean for Faster Six Sigma Results: A synchronized Approach and a chapter in The Manufacturing Engineering Handbook. She is a member of the American Statistical Association, The Biometric Society, The American Society of Quality and The Association of Psychological Type.