First Course in Quality Engineering

The quality knowledge landscape is rapidly evolving alongside advancements in information technology and manufacturing methods. As data science transforms information processing, quality decisions are becoming more data-driven, while innovations like additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0 automation demand new measurement and control approaches. This convergence necessitates updated educational resources to equip future engineers and managers with the integrated expertise needed for implementing modern quality systems that span entire production ecosystems rather than operating in departmental silos.

A leader in its field, A First Course in Quality Engineering: Integrating Statistical and Management Methods of Quality, Fourth Edition is completely updated and continues to offer a balanced treatment of both statistical and management methods of quality and at the same time gives the theoretical background of the statistical methods. This textbook presents many examples and exercises taken from real-world processes and includes mini-projects from the authors’ consulting work that shows how the tools are employed in solving some difficult real-world problems. It addresses major systems for quality management such as ISO 9000 and Baldrige Criteria which are explained in plain, non-legal language and provides updated material on new quality methods developed to meet the evolving changes in the digital world such as data analytics in Industry 4.0.

This textbook is a key source for quality technology that is completely updated and includes a new chapter titled “Quality for the 21st Century.” For an instructor, this premium textbook is a ready source of reference updated by experts in the field. For the student, it contains the latest material along with long-established tools. Lastly for the professional, this book remains a great training tool for corporate trainers.

A Solutions Manual and PowerPoint slides are available for qualified textbook adoptions.

K.S. Krishnamoorthi, Ph.D., is a professor-emeritus of industrial engineering in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Technology Department of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He has a BE degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Madras, India, an MA in statistics and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Buffalo. He teaches statistics and quality engineering, among other industrial engineering subjects, and conducts research in the area of quality costs, process capability indices, and statistical thinking. He has provided consultation to several small and large corporations in process and product quality improvement using statistical tools. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.

Satish Bukkapatnam, Ph.D., is a Rockwell International professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University. His research addresses the harnessing of high-resolution nonlinear dynamic information, especially from wireless MEMS sensors, to improve the monitoring and prognostics, mainly of ultraprecision and nanomanufacturing processes and machines, and cardiorespiratory processes. He has been recognized with Oklahoma State University Regents distinguished research, Halliburton outstanding college of engineering faculty, IISE Boeing technical innovation, IISE Eldin outstanding young industrial engineer, and SME Dougherty outstanding young manufacturing engineer awards. He currently serves as the editor of the IISE Transactions, Design and Manufacturing Focused Issue. He received a BTech degree from S.V. University, Tirupati, India, and master's and Ph.D., degrees from the Pennsylvania State University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a Fellow of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

V. Ram Krishnamoorthi, is an attending internist at the University of Chicago Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. He obtained an A.B. degree in economics from Princeton University and his M.D. and M.P.H. from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. He is involved in health services research and quality improvement initiatives at the U of C Hospitals and is interested in problems of quality and access to affordable health care at the national level. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.