Let's Combinate · 20 Jul 2022 · 20m
Subhi Saadeh, host of the Let's Combinate podcast, provides a detailed analysis of Walter Shewhart’s 1939 book Statistical Methods from the Viewpoint of Quality Control, positioning Shewhart as the father of statistical quality control and a mentor to W. Edwards Deming. Saadeh explains Shewhart’s core concepts, including the control chart, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and the distinction between specification, production, and inspection as a dynamic wheel rather than a linear process. The episode highlights Shewhart’s historical context, noting the shift from exact specifications to interchangeable parts and the introduction of go/no-go tolerance limits in the late 19th century. Saadeh concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding these first principles of quality engineering for modern medical device and pharma professionals.
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