Minutes from Quality & Productivity Section Strategic
Planning Meeting at the Joint Research Conference in Seattle on June 25,
2000
By Eric Lagergren, Chair-Elect
Attendees: Tom Boardman, Eric Lagergren, Gwen Stimely, Lonnie Vance,
Geoff Vining
Review Vision and Mission
Review Strategic Plan and revise as necessary
Vision: Be the world class volunteer organization devoted to statistical
thinking and the proper application of quality and productivity principles.
Definition: Statistical Thinking is a philosophy of learning and
making decisions based on three fundamental principles: all work occurs
in a system of interconnected processes, variation exists in all processes,
and understanding and reducing variation are keys to success.
Mission: To promote quality and productivity through the development,
teaching, and the proper application of statistical thinking and tools.
We then reviewed the current strategic plan which is given
in Geoff Vining's article on page 3 of the December 1999 issue of the Joint
Q&P/SPES newsletter.
1. Increase ability to communicate via web , search engines , email,
…
This is a key strategic goal for the next five years. Key aspects of
this are improving communication among the Q&P executive committee.
Geoff will check with ASA on maintaining an email list of the Q&P executive
committee (action item 1). Discussed the importance of having an email list
of section members to enhance communication, for example, to announce new
postings on our web page. Lisa Custer will follow up on checking with ASA
about this email list (action item 2). Discussed possibility of ASA maintaining
our web page on their server. Tom Boardman will follow up on what assistance
ASA would provide (action item 3). Discussed possibility of moving to an
electronic newsletter only.
2. Consistently offer short courses on topics consistent with our mission
at the joint statistical meetings and Q&P Research Conference.
3. Consistently offer short courses in venues other than formal meetings.
These two strategic goals will be combined into one. Q&P is sponsoring
two short courses at JSM 2000 (one jointly with SPES). We would like to
sponsor more short courses at future conferences.
4. Make the transition from electronic proceedings.
This is a key goal for the section. In 1999 we sold only 35 copies and
lost nearly $1000 in printing costs. Moving to electronic proceedings will
reduce costs, while providing greater access by our membership. Gwen Stimely
(action item 4) will pilot a program to collect electronic versions (pdf
files) of papers beginning with JSM 2000 and explore ways to package these
for availability by our membership (e.g. on our web page) and the ASA office
(e.g. with a CD). We discussed the potential downsides of going electronic.
One is the need for authors to have a citation. This could be satisfied
with a CD copy. A second is that libraries have historically preferred hard
copies to electronic copies. We did not feel that this was a major problem,
since libraries are gradually becoming more accepting of electronic versions
and proceeding papers generally do not have long archival lives anyway.
5. To promote introduction of Q&P concepts and tools in courses,
seminars, and workshops.
6. To promote the proper use of Q&P concepts and tools to improve
courses, seminars, and workshops.
7. To promote the application and proper use of Q&P concepts and
tools to improve processes.
Discussed the possibility of having a short course or JSM invited session
on how to get Q&P concepts into the statistics curriculum. Eric and
Geoff will follow up on this at the JSM Tactical Planning and Executive
Committee meetings (action item 5).
8. Promote an improved exchange of ideas and problems between quality
and productivity researchers and practitioners.
We currently do this with the Quality and Productivity Research Conference.
We discussed the possibility of getting more involved with the Fall Technical
Conference (action item 6).
9. Use the leverage Q&P has with other organizations to achieve our
strategic goals.
Discussed the possibility of coordinating with other organizations here.
For example Enrique del Castillo is the informal liason with the Quality
& Reliability & Statistics Division of Informs. Need to look into
other opportunities.
10. To develop criteria characteristics for statistical engineer or industrial
statistician or statistical scientist or Q&P statistician.
11. To make the term industrial statistician (statistical engineer, statistical
scientist or Q&P statistician) a recognized term and understanding of
the term by the customer base.
Discussed what role the Q&P section should play in defining criteria
for 6-sigma statisticians and what information Q&P should provide to
organizations who are interested in training and certification. We feel
the Q&P section has a vital role to play here. Angie Neff will take
the lead on this (action item 7).
12. Define and implement a strategy for the use of the Mary G. Natrella
fund.
Q&P is sponsoring two $1000 scholarships with the interest from this
fund. Veronica Czitrom, Leroy Franklin, and Tom and Eileen Boardman have
done a great job pulling this together. More generally the section needs
to investigate additional ways to invest our money, perhaps through additional
scholarships.
1. Check with ASA about maintaining an email list of the Q&P Executive
Committee (Geoff).
2. Check with ASA about getting an email list of section members (Lisa
C.).
3. Check with ASA about assistance they'll provide for section web page
(Tom).
4. Pilot a program to create electronic proceedings (Gwen).
5. Explore possibility of a short course or JSM session on getting Q&P
concepts into the statistics curriculum (Geoff and Eric).
6. Explore the possibility of greater involvement with the Fall Technical
Conference (Eric).
7. Lead a group to develop a "Black Belt Body of Knowledge for 6-Sigma" (Angie).