The Introduction of Statistical Methods to Industry

Abstract

Dr. Dudding is a pioneer in this country in the application of statistics to the investigation and control of factory processes. Here he describes how he and his colleagues at the GEC developed this application to its culmination in the use of the control chart technique. The article also deals with practical points that arise in introducing this technique into a factory and describes the advantages that accrue from its application.

Statistics in Manufacturing Industry

“…Nevertheless I make bold to express opinions and to assess the various developments that have occurred, hoping that industrial colleagues will accept me as their spokesman for this once. HISTORY Statistics began to be applied to manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in the 1920's, a notable pioneer being Dr B. P. Dudding of the General Electric Company, who contributed much to the 1932 British Standard on electric lampsprobably the first British Standard to contain a proper statistical specification (Dudding, 1952). There were also activities in several other industries, each developed to meet a particular need, and each involving elementary methods and ideas that at t.he time were unfamiliar to industry.…”