top of page
EllisROtt_1_edited.jpg

"Plot the data!": Ellis Ott, the "Father of Industrial Statistics"

"Years ahead of his time, Ott recognized the importance of balance among theory, applications and communications. Many universities now embrace his teaching principles and his model for departmental organization.... Ott taught statistics by storytelling, and every lesson was a practical one in both statistical methods and the manner in which statistical consulting could be most effective.  .. (his) strong passion for combining statistics with science and engineering created practical solutions for diverse industrial needs. "

 

- Dean Neubauer, "Pl-Ott the Data!", ASQ Quality Digest, 2007.

Ellis R. Ott (1906 - 1981)

Career Accomplishments, Awards, and Recognitions

  • Book on Process Quality Control: Troubleshooting and Interpretation of Data in continued publication since 1975

    • 2nd edition, with Edward G. Schilling, 1989​

    • 3rd edition, with Edward G. Schilling and Dean V. Neubauer, 2000

    • 4th edition, with Edward G. Schilling and Dean V. Neubauer, 2005

  • Special Issue of the Journal of Quality Technology (JQT) published in memory, January 1983

  • Ellis R. Ott Foundation formed, 1982

  • Named Ninth Honorary Member of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC, now ASQ), 1978

  • Published book Process Quality Control: Troubleshooting and Interpretation of Data, 1975

  • Retired 1972, 340+ M.S. degrees, 35 Ph.D., named Professor Emeritus

  • Ellis R. Ott Award created by the Metropolitan Section of ASQC (now the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Section of ASQC) to recognize his contributions and commitment to SQC, 1970

  • Received ASQC's Brumbaugh Award, 1968, for the Analysis of Means (ANOM)

  • Received ASQC's Grant Award, 1968

  • Statistics Center introduced consulting intern program, 1965

  • Ph.D. program approved 1959, 1st degree granted 1963

  • Received ASQC's Shewhart Medal, 1960, awarded for outstanding technical contributions and leadership

  • Became director of newly established Statistics Center formed for the Rutgers University Graduate School, 1959

  • Analysis of Means (ANOM) developed, 1958

  • Elected Fellow, American Statistical Association (ASA), 1958

  • Elected a Vice President of ASQC, served 1956 to 1960

  • Named Professor of Applied and Mathematical Statistics, Rutgers University, 1952

  • Inaugural Rutgers' All-Day Conference on Quality Control in Industry, 1949

  • Founding member of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC, now ASQ), 1946

  • Named Chair, Department of Mathematics, Rutgers University "University College" for returning WWII veterans, 1946

  • Joined Rutgers University as Chair, Department of Mathematics, 1946

  • National Union Radio Corp, Newark, NJ, applying statistical quality control methods of missile production

  • Professor of Mathematics, University of Buffalo, 1934 to 1946

  • Mathematics Instructor, University of Arkansas

  • Ph.D., Mathematics, University of Illinois

  • M.S. University of Kansas

  • B.S. Southwestern College, Kansas

Articles about Ellis Ott's Contributions

  • "Ellis R. Ott: Educator of a generation of quality control professionals", ASQ Honorary Member Biography: https://asq.org/about-asq/honorary-members/ott (unattributed). 

  • "A Tribute to Ellis R. Ott", written by Ronald D. Snee, former student and editor of the Journal of Quality Technology (JQT), Vol. 15, No. 1 (1983), discusses Ott's contributions, particularly with respect to Analysis of Means (ANOM) methods.

  • "Ellis Ott: Prince of Quality", by J. Stuart Hunter, former student and colleague, describes how Ellis Ott became involved with Rutgers, as well as some personal remembrances (2010).  

  • "Pl-Ott the Data", was published in ASQ's Quality Digest in 2007, written by Dean V. Neubauer.

​

​

bottom of page