Statistics is one of the most rapidly expanding fields today. Combined with current computer technology, the potential for its future applicaxsxstions is unbounded. The tremendous excitement generated by statistical methods to solve problems and improve quality creates a demand for more people in this profession. In American industry, the improvement of quality is critical to maintaining a competitive position in the world market.

I love my work for many reasons. First, I believe in Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 14 points on continuous quality improvement and its importance to the survival of American industry. Dr. Deming is the man who helped Japan become successful in many industries by combining the use of statistical tools and his 14 points to gain continuous improvement of a product.

Second, I am an avid statistician, and I enjoy applying statistical techniques and teaching them to others. These techniques help us become objective with data rather than allowing us to make decisions based on opinions.

Another great aspect of my job is that it is both investigative and creative in nature. For me, the thrill stems from the wonderful uniqueness of each new problem, with the solution requiring creativity as well as scientiic skills. In essence, each application requires me to function as a “quality detective” using process knowledge hand in hand with my statistical skills. The vast array of problems range from manufacturing of parts to computer simulations, from software testing to engineering designs of the process and product.