Case Studies Instructions
Required Format:
Department Title: Case Studies
Case Study Subtitle: Relevant title of case study
Authors/Affiliations:
Summary: (Similar to abstract, except broken into three sections of two or three sentences each)
Problem- What is the issue that prompted the need for a solution? What was the pain?
Approach- What approach was taken to solve or mitigate the problem? What statistical methods were used to achieve this?Results- How has the process improved since applying the approach? What decision was reached? What’s next?
Process Description: Specifically in what process (manufacturing, service area, etc) did the problem occur? Describe this succinctly but in a way that someone unfamiliar with your subject matter can understand. Use a photo and/or a diagram if appropriate.
Data Collection: What metrics will be used to measure improvement? What are the units? What methods were used to collect data required to generate information needed to make the ultimate decision and/or reach a conclusion?
Analysis and Interpretation: Discuss the statistical methods used as applied to your specific problem? Mention why you chose these methods if there were obvious competing methods.
Were there any people issues that needed to be addressed in order to achieve results? Perhaps you had to convince others that your approach was appropriate. Briefly describe how you overcame obstacles. Note: if this is more appropriate as part of the Data Collection discussion, include it in that section.
What information was obtained that led you to your result/conclusion? Provide relevant graphs/tables.
If a more technical or lengthy explanation is required for support, put it in an appendix which will be placed on the JQT website along with a sufficient data set for a reader to duplicate key statistical results. Your article will contain the appropriate link for subscribers.
State what software was used to implement the statistical methods applied. Was it a direct, straight forward application of the software or did you need to make some adjustments in order to achieve what you needed?
Conclusions/Recommendations: Expand on the brief information given in the results bullet of the Summary. What was the solution/decision? How much has the initial pain been reduced/removed? What next steps, if any, are indicated? What have you learned? What might you do differently, if anything? Any caveats for other practitioners that have a similar problem?
Acknowledgements: Include appropriate acknowledgements, if any.
References: Include directly applicable references. If a practitioner wanted to read more about the particular methods you used, what are the seminal references?
Links: JQT links to any appendix and to the data for this case study.
Submission: Submit a cover letter attesting that the manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. If similar articles are under consideration for publication or have been published, they must be disclosed in the manuscript (preferred) or in the cover letter. Submissions must be made electronically (via e-mail) by sending a PDF, Postscript or MS Word file. Be sure to embed all fonts used in the document. All submissions should go to:
Valerie Funk
Manuscript Coordinator, ASQ
e-mail: manuscripts@asq.org
Phone: 800-248-1946
