By emphasizing statistical - and managerial - thinking in this book, the authors show how to evaluate the source and quality of their data, as well as what they hope to extract from it. It presents statistical concepts and techniques as a body of knowledge, rather than merely a collection of tools. As they stress statistical thinking the authors aim to teach students to approach statistics as statisticians do. Concepts evolve naturally from previous material, helping students retain and relate to the information. The authors integrate the theme of Statistical Quality Control or Statistical Process Control throughout the entire text. Using this approach, Canavos and Miller aim to teach students to think critically about statistics, and its application to business decision making, as well as how to measure and improve quality and efficiency, and how to be more competitive in the marketplace.