Tools and methods for the improvement of quality. (English) Zbl 0713.62102

Gitlow, Howard; Gitlow, Shelly; Oppenheim, Alan; Oppenheim, Rosa

The Irwin Series in Quantitative Analysis for Business. Homewood, IL etc.: Richard D. Irwin, Inc. Publishers. xvi, 603 p. (1989).

This interesting monograph is concentrated on Deming’s philosophy for the improvement of quality, productivity and competitive position. More precisely, the book focuses especially on:
the Deming’s philosophy and different discussions on it; distinguishing between enumerative statistical studies and analytical studies; how to improve stable processes which have known capability to produce and are predictable; a detailed discussion on diagnosing and analyzing control chart patterns; many examples and ministudies which help better understanding of the topics covered.
The book can be used for three different levels of education.
A. The basic level, i.e.: fundamentals of quality; fundamentals of statistical studies; documenting and defining a process; basic statistics; stabilizing and improving a process with control charts; attribute control charts; variables control charts; diagnosing a process; process capability and improvement studies.
B. The intermediate level, covering all of the chapters in the basic level, plus:
basic probability; probability models; sampling distributions; out-of- control patterns; specifications.
C. The advanced level covers all of the chapters in the basic and intermediate level plus:
Taguchi method - quality improvement in product and process design; inspection policy; Deming’s 14 points and the reduction of variation; some current thinking about statistical studies and practice.
While strictly mathematically oriented people will probably not find the book of big interest, I am sure that people from the practice will do.

Reviewer: J.Antoch

MSC:

62P30	Applications of statistics in engineering and industry; control charts
62-01	Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to statistics

Keywords:

process diagnosis; Deming’s philosophy; examples; attribute control charts; variables control charts; process capability; sampling distributions; out-of-control patterns; Taguchi method; quality improvement; inspection policy; reduction of variation