John Lawson
Professor of Statistics
Brigham Young University
John Lawson, with his newly minted Master's degree in statistics, was hired into an internal consultant group at Johnson & Johnson. Five years later he joined FMC Corporation, earned a PhD at Polytechnic Institute of New York and eventually headed up FMC's statistical service group. He's been teaching statistics at BYU for two decades. He and his colleagues have enhanced its relevance for undergraduates with an interesting boost.
What is quality science, and why is it important?
Quality science is the study of technical and organizational tools that enable a business to meet or exceed customer expectations and industry standards while minimimzing variation in function and unintended harmful side effects.
Why was demand for statistics majors with a quality science emphasis declining among BYU undergraduates?
The number of credit hours required for graduation with a quality science emphasis was more strenuous than the requirements for students with other statistics majors.
You have a solution. What are the essential pieces of your solution?
We've dropped the requirement that students include a manufacturing/engineering minor. Quality science originated in manufacturing, but it is now used throughout worldwide commerce. Next, we added an optional exam and additional credential to the curriculum - Certified Quality Process Analyst, and it's issued to successful exam-takers near the end of the course by the American Society for Quality. That certification is a leg up for internships and for jobs after graduation.
Is quality a field of study that might serve a budding entrepreneur well?
Definitely. A great product or service idea can launch a business. But delivering it with quality and consistency will enhance the business's opportunities for marketplace success. Edwards Deming drew a clear link between quality improvement, lower production costs and resulting competitive enhancement.
Describe the two ASQ certified quality process analyst certification exams.
Students can seek either or both of two certifications prior to graduation and without extensive work experience. Certified Quality Improvement Associate is one. Certified Quality Process Analyst is the other. Each exam includes one hundred multiple choice questions, to be completed in a morning or an afternoon. The cost to ASQ members is $155, and higher for non-members. Student membership is available at low cost. The scores and results are reported two weeks later. Certificates are mailed at that time.
Are you considering any modifications?
Actually, members of our statistics department are considering transfering the ASQ certification preparation to BYU's division of continuing education.