I was a VP for Quality at Nynex (Verizon) years ago, and after some years at Microsoft now work at a University which is implementing Six Sigma. This book is great at simply explaining the point of SPC aka TQM aka Six Sigma. It gets to the important outcomes with minimal prerequisite understanding.

Highly recommended for anyone dealing with Six Sigma or similar initiatives, or thinking about it. Or simply for anyone consuming any series of numeric data in a company or personal life.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great book and an easy read, but it leaves alot of unexplored avenues. If you are buying this on-line realize that this is a quick read (120 pages, large type and graphics included). For one thing Wheeler does not clarify the use of capability in regards to Ppk and Cpk (in case someone out there is interested). Nonetheless, Wheeler does a great job of condensing a lot of conceptual material into a neat little book that anyone dealing in IPM, SPC,six sigma, TQM or other quality systems or analysis can appreciate (this is an especially good book for those who may need to train others in understanding variation). Wheller's examples are both entertaining and acurately tease apart some important concepts. We are indebted to his clear, concise verbage- I just wish he would expand on a few key concepts.

This book really opened my eyes to the concept of "noise" in data. The fact of the matter is that we accept metrics like "year over year" analysis because those are easy to produce. However, this book makes a successful case that we need to be smarter about acting on data analysis. Not everything is actionable. Sometimes it is just noise.

This book succeeds in demonstrating that by looking at and accepting the prmise of variation in data, you can spend your time acting on key events.