About the Expert
Brenda has almost 30 years of experience in applying statistical metholodogy in industrial settings. She has worked extensively on developing statistically valid equipment qualification systems, sampling metholodogy, and industrial experimentation for process improvement and optimization. Brenda is currently working for Unisys on a contract with the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command applying her statistical skills to logistics and supply chain management. Prior to working for Unisys, Brenda spent more than eight years as lead statistician for Anheuser-Busch Companies, where she deployed Six Sigma through training Green and Black Belts throughout the quality organization. She has also worked for Corning Incorporated, deploying ISO 9001-1987 and -1991, and at Quaker Oats.
ASQ Involvement
Brenda has been extensively involved in ASQ since she joined in 1987. She is past chair of Sections 202 (Corning/Elmira) and 1204 (Saint Louis). She is currently chair-elect of the Chemical and Process Industries Division and General Chair of the 2013 Fall Technical Conference. Brenda became involved in standards development in 2008 and is currently the U.S. Liaison to ISO TC/69 Working Group 3, which focuses on interpretation of statistics.
Education and Certifications
She holds Bachelor of Science Degrees in both Mathematics and Statistics as well as a Master of Science in Statistics from Purdue University. She recently completed a Master of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans. She is an ASQ-Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Quality Auditor (CQA), Manager of Quality/Organization Excellence (CMQ/OE), Reliability Engineer (CRE), Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) and Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA). Brenda lives near St. Louis, MO.
Why Standards Are Important
Brenda finds standards are very important to clearly delineate expectations between customers and suppliers. For example, when Anheuser-Busch was upgrading its packaging lines, there were no defined tests to ensure that the newly installed equipment met quality assurance requirements. After extensive time and work, systems were developed and deployed. Time to produce good product at high levels of confidence was reduced from weeks to days after system startup. Brenda joined the U.S. Standards Group to contribute to an area she think is important and to learn.
Other Interests
Brenda is a devout Catholic, spending considerable time volunteering for her church, which includes the Leadership of the Liturgy Committee, and as Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, among other activities. When she isn’t volunteering her time for professional and church activities, she enjoys spending time with her grandson, reading, cooking, and doing counted cross stitch.