Donald Marquardt
Encyclopedia
Donald W. Marquardt was an American statistician, the rediscoverer of the Levenberg–Marquardt nonlinear least squares fitting algorithm.
Marquardt joined DuPont
in 1953 and worked there for 39 years. He also founded and managed the DuPont Quality Management & Technology Center. In 1963 he published his famous paper "algorithm for least-squares estimation of nonlinear problems" in SIAM journal. Marquardt developed his algorithm to solve fitting nonlinear chemical models to laboratory data.
As manager of the DuPont Applied Statistics Group, he led development of the Product Quality Management(PQM) methodology and computer systems
that implemented the company's continuous improvement initiatives from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s.
In 1991, he established his own company, Donald W. Marquardt and Associates, which provides consulting and training in quality management, quality assurance, ISO 9000 standards, applied statistics, strategic planning and organizational change.
He died from a heart attack at the age of 68.
Marquardt joined DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
in 1953 and worked there for 39 years. He also founded and managed the DuPont Quality Management & Technology Center. In 1963 he published his famous paper "algorithm for least-squares estimation of nonlinear problems" in SIAM journal. Marquardt developed his algorithm to solve fitting nonlinear chemical models to laboratory data.
As manager of the DuPont Applied Statistics Group, he led development of the Product Quality Management(PQM) methodology and computer systems
Quality management
The term Quality management has a specific meaning within many business sectors. This specific definition, which does not aim to assure 'good quality' by the more general definition , can be considered to have four main components: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality...
that implemented the company's continuous improvement initiatives from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s.
In 1991, he established his own company, Donald W. Marquardt and Associates, which provides consulting and training in quality management, quality assurance, ISO 9000 standards, applied statistics, strategic planning and organizational change.
He died from a heart attack at the age of 68.
Awards and achievements
- President of the American Statistical AssociationPresident of the American Statistical AssociationThe President of the American Statistical Association is the head of the American Statistical Association . According to the association's bylaws, the president is an officer, and a member of the board of directors and of the executive committee. Elections for the position are held annually, in...
(1986) - Elected member of the International Statistical InstituteInternational Statistical InstituteThe International Statistical Institute is a professional association of statisticians. The Institut International de Statistique or International Statistical Institute was founded in 1885 although there had been international congresses from 1853.. The Institute publishes a variety of books and...
. - Leader of the U.S. delegation to the ISO 9000ISO 9000The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
International Quality Standard writing group. - American Society for QualityAmerican Society for QualityAmerican Society for Quality , formerly known as American Society for Quality Control , is a knowledge-based global community of quality control experts, with nearly 85,000 members dedicated to the promotion and advancement of quality tools, principles, and practices in their workplaces and in...
(ASQ) Shewhart MedalShewhart MedalThe Shewhart Medal, named in honour of Walter A. Shewhart, is awarded annually by the American Society for Quality for ...outstanding technical leadership in the field of modern quality control, especially through the development to its theory, principles, and techniques. The first medal was...
(1987) - American Statistical AssociationAmerican Statistical AssociationThe American Statistical Association , is the main professional US organization for statisticians and related professions. It was founded in Boston, Massachusetts on November 27, 1839, and is the second oldest, continuously operating professional society in the United States...
Statistician of the Year (1993–94) - American Statistical AssociationAmerican Statistical AssociationThe American Statistical Association , is the main professional US organization for statisticians and related professions. It was founded in Boston, Massachusetts on November 27, 1839, and is the second oldest, continuously operating professional society in the United States...
Founders Award (1995) - American National Standards InstituteAmerican National Standards InstituteThe American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...
Meritorious Service Award