In particular, since 1980, there has been a profound growth in the use of statistical methods
for quality and overall business improvement in the United States and throughout the world.
This has been motivated, in part, by the widespread loss of business and markets suffered by
many US companies that began during the 1970s. For example, the US automobile industry was
nearly destroyed by international competition during this period. One US automobile company
estimated its operating losses at nearly $1 million per hour in 1980. The adoption and use of
statistical methods have played a central role in the renewed competitiveness of US industry
with respect to quality