The ever-expanding reference library

Juran�s "Quality Control Handbook" [McGraw Hill] is an excellent resource. It is, by and large, accessible by those who are not conversant in the Central Limit Theorem [like who is?], although it will help explain whatever that thing is that I just said. The book is three inches thick, has 30-some chapters, and gives very good introductions to a wide range of quality topics. And one part that I really like is the chapters, while generally written by different people, are tied together by references to other chapters, unlike so many so called "handbooks". [There, I got that off my chest.]

"Statistical Process Control for SMT" William Messina, Datasleuths. This book is the first that is written for the application of statistical process control (SPC) techniques to surface mount technology (SMT). It gives the practitioner guidance in the appropriate techniques to apply to the manufacturing line to assure that specified quality levels are achieved. This book applies the concept of data sleuthing to solve the "excessive variation" on the manufacturing line. Data Sleuthing is based on three elements: statistical tools, manufacturing strategies, and deductive reasoning and logic. I plan a review of this book in a upcoming SMTnet Newsletter.

"Statistic Quality Control" EL Grant & RS Leavenworth, McGraw Hill. It�s in it�s seventh edition. Need I say more?

"Optimizing Quality In Electronics Assembly" JA Smith & FB Whitehall, McGraw Hill. This book is subtitled "A Heretical Approach." Maybe it takes such an approach, but it seems like there are better places to spend one�s book dollar. [Or may be I keep flashing back on Cardinal Ximinez of Spain (Palin) ranting about how no one expects the Spanish Inquisition]

I can easily ignore most articles in "Quality Magazine" except, my favorite column "Wheeler�s Workshop". "Understanding Statistical Process Control" DJ Wheeler & DS Chambers, SPC Press does not stray too far from discussions about control charts.

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A website you could visit is:

http://www.qualityamerica.com/

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