QPReviews Out Of Another @#&*% Crisis!: Motivation Through Humiliation
business. After considering this assessment
networks, deal with new and complex is-
of the current situation, readers will want
sues in network reliability.
Mike Micklewright, 2010, 256 pp., $20
to find a copy of Deming’s book to reexam-
Overall, this book can be used by
member, $34 list (book).
ine the principles he espoused and identify
students in courses covering reliability
W. Edwards Deming
a path forward to a future of improved
networks by reliability engineering practi-
published Out Of
quality and productivity.
tioners looking for an accessible source of
the Crisis in 1982.
Rich Anderson
That book and the
Tucson, AZ
information and by researchers interested in the problems presented.
seminars Deming
Ron S. Kenett
quality movement
Models of Network Reliability: Analysis, Combinatorics and Monte Carlo
in the United States
Ilya B. Gertsbakh and Yoseph Shpungin, CRC
conducted were key elements in the
during the 1980s. At that time, Deming was
Press, 2010, 217 pp., $82.95 (book).
KPA Raanana, Israel
Statistics for Engineers: An Introduction
one of the giants in the world of quality and
This book is unusual.
S.J. Morrison, John Wiley & Sons, 2009, 192
he shaped the thinking of a generation of
It is designed as a
pp., $70 (book).
quality professionals.
textbook for a one-
Morrison is an engi-
semester graduate
neer who attempts
well American businesses have embraced
course in network
to create a text that
Deming’s principles during the intervening
reliability analysis.
provides statistics
years. His conclusion is that CEOs get a
The application areas
basics to engineers
failing grade on a majority of Deming’s 14
covered by this topic
while providing an
Points.
include software
extensive list of
In this book, Mickelwright examines how
Micklewright also offers his opinion of how Deming might view the various performance improvement efforts being pursued
engineering, industrial engineering and
references for further
computer science. The book covers practical and theoreti-
study. For the most part, he accomplishes this task by providing
today. He uses Deming’s 14 Points to
cal aspects of efficient Monte Carlo algo-
useful statistical tools for engineers, along
evaluate lean, Six Sigma, offshoring, Black
rithms used to model networks and esti-
with references to and lists of various
Belts, ISO 9001 and other quality manage-
mate their reliability parameters. The power
publications.
ment system standards, such as balanced
of these algorithms is in their handling of
scorecards and root cause analysis.
topological properties of the network. The
tain the statistical basics for engineers.
In some cases, he finds congruence
The first five of the eight chapters con-
13 chapters and three appendixes make
Topics range from the nature of variability
with the 14 Points. In many cases, however,
the material accessible to readers with a
to more complex topics, such as multiple
he finds that leaders are applying tools
basic background in reliability.
regression and design of experiments.
without first establishing a framework of
Formal proofs are minimally presented,
In all of the statistical presentations, the
principles upon which their companies will
the methods are widely supported by
focus is on understanding the sources
operate. Micklewright blames this failure
examples and exercises, and guidelines for
of variation and either controlling or
of leadership for the poor performance of
developing computer programs are pro-
reducing variation from the concept stage
American corporations.
vided. The authors encourage readers to
to manufacturing. Presentation of the
Business leaders and quality profession-
write such programs to achieve deep un-
statistical material is brief and contains
als will benefit from reading Micklewright’s
derstanding of the methods. But, parts of
examples. Extensive reference lists are
diagnosis of the current state of American
the book, such as chapter 12 on dynamic
given for those wanting a deeper under-
68 QP • www.qualityprogress.com