Regina Becker
Manager, Statistical Consulting Service
Office: Mathematical Sciences Building, Room 526
Phone: (765) 494-0105
Fax: (765) 494-0558
E-mail: rbecker@purdue.edu

Map to office

My areas of interest:

My special areas of interest are industrial quality control and quality engineering.

Range of TAP projects I have worked on:

The TAP projects that I have worked on fit into three basic categories.

Most common is the request for help in improving process output and decreasing scrap and defects. Often, there isn't a particular problem that has been identified, but the client is looking for an outside opinion and a different view of the problem. One project that fits into this category is the American Window and Glass project, in which we outlined a plan to identify and control critical characteristics. The client carried out the plan and improved process yield considerably, while saving a substantial amount of money.

The second category is the specific question that is either statistical in nature or quality control related. This includes questions about sample size for surveys and quality control sampling, analysis of the effect of a spec change of a component on the resulting assembly, or analysis of data related to a process characteristic (e.g., placement of the label on the bottle is not consistent so data is analyzed to identify the cause of the problem). These projects can usually be completed in a short time and the results have been very positive.

The last category is a request for information about ISO 9001. This ranges from basic information about the standard and how it can be applied to the client's work environment to very specific questions about how to incorporate statistical techniques into the workplace.

Range of company/ organization types I have worked for:

We have worked for automotive-related manufacturing companies, paper-related manufacturers, metal and plastic fabricators, custom woodworking shops, and food-related companies.

What I most enjoy about working for the Technical Assistance Program.

I enjoy the challenge of learning about a process, examining production data, and identifying those factors or procedures that can be changed to improve the process. I have also enjoyed the ISO 9001 consulting projects.

I worked in a factory environment for seven years (Subaru Isuzu Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana, and Simmonds Precision in Vergennes, Vermont) and enjoy the fast pace of the factory environment and the wide range of people that I meet. It's especially rewarding when we can help solve a problem and save the company money.

Success Story:

American Window and Glass - seeing clearly now.