A Detailed Account of the Historical Document on Statistical Quality Control and How It Changed Japan's Fortunes Post-World War II

The Road to Quality Control: The Industrial Application of Statistical Quality Control by Homer M. Sarasohn contains an English translation of the book, The Industrial Application of Statistical Quality Control (SQC), written by a remarkable American engineer. Homer M. Sarasohn was the first person to teach the Japanese how to manage a company in post-war Japan. In addition, the book includes essays by N. I. Fisher and W. H. Woodall that discuss the historical significance of the American involvement in the evolution of SQC in Japan in the years following World War II. The original 1952 edition, published in Japanese, is largely unknown, even inside Japan.

The book clearly demonstrates the amazing contribution, even by today's standards, of Sarasohn's contemporary thinking about the role of Statistical Quality Control in the broader context of Quality Management. In addition, the text debunks the historical misconceptions about who was responsible for helping the Japanese industry revive and shows how General MacArthur was indebted to Sarasohn. This historically important text:

• contains the English version of the historical document that helped Japan learn how to apply SQC in order to manage a company effectively
• includes two essays: one from a world expert in the area of SQC and the other from an acclaimed expert on Quality Management
• reveals Homer M. Sarasohn's contribution to the field of SQC
• demonstrates the vital role of SQC in helping Japan establish and maintain a competitive position after World War II

Written for statisticians, SPC/SQC practitioners, members of the American Society for Quality and Japanese statisticians, The Road to Quality Control: The Industrial Application of Statistical Quality Control by Homer M. Sarasohn reveals the importance of Statistical Quality Control when appropriately applied in an industrial setting.

Professor Woodall's essay shows that this book represents a remarkable contribution, even by today's standards, because of its contemporary thinking about the relationship between the specific topic of SQC and the broader company context of Quality Management. It also demonstrates the remarkable awareness of at least some young US engineers in the post-war period about the vital role of Statistical Quality Control in establishing and maintaining a competitive position. The book reveals that there was unsuspected knowledge extant immediately post-war, about the importance of Statistical Quality Control when appropriately applied in an industrial setting. It also helps to correct wide-spread historical misconceptions about who specifically was responsible for helping Japanese industry get back on its feet post-war, a task assigned to General Douglas Macarthur by President Truman and how Macarthur was indebted to Sarasohn.