Elizabeth
FEATURED AUTHOR

Elizabeth "Beth" A. Cudney

John E. Simon School of Business
Maryville University

Dr. Elizabeth Cudney is an ASQ Fellow, IISE Fellow, and ASEM Fellow. She is an Academician in the International Academy for Quality. She received the ASQ Crosby Medal for her Design for Six Sigma book, ASQ A.V. Feigenbaum Medal for outstanding leadership in quality, and Yoshio Kondo Academic Research Prize for sustained performance in exceptional published works. She is a certified LSS MBB, Certified Quality Engineer, and Certified Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence.

Biography

Elizabeth "Beth" Cudney, Ph.D. received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University.  She received her Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering with a Manufacturing Specialization and Master of Business Administration from the University of Hartford, and her doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri – Rolla.  

Prior to returning to school for her doctorate, she worked in the automotive industry in various roles including Six Sigma Black Belt, Quality/Process Engineer, Quality Auditor, Senior Manufacturing Engineer and Manufacturing Manager. Beth is an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Quality Engineer, Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence, Certified Quality Inspector, Certified Quality Improvement Associate, Certified Quality Technician, and Certified Quality Process Analyst. Beth is a member of the Japan Quality Engineering Society (QES), International Academy for Quality (IAQ), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Quality (ASQ), Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). She is currently serving as President of ASEM.

Beth is an ASQ Fellow, IISE Fellow, ASEM Fellow, and IAQ Academician. She received the ASQ Crosby Medal for her Design for Six Sigma book, ASQ A.V. Feigenbaum Medal for outstanding leadership in quality, and Yoshio Kondo Academic Research Prize for sustained performance in exceptional published works. In 2014, Beth was elected as an ASEM Fellow. In 2013, Beth was elected as an ASQ Fellow. In 2010, Beth was inducted into the International Academy for Quality. In addition, she received the 2007 American Society for Quality (ASQ) Armand V. Feigenbaum Medal.  This international award is given annually to one individual “who has displayed outstanding characteristics of leadership, professionalism, and potential in the field of quality and also whose work has been or, will become of distinct benefit to mankind.” In addition, she received the 2006 Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award.  This international award is given annually to engineers “who have made exceptional contributions and accomplishments in the manufacturing industry.”

Beth’s major areas of interest are in quality engineering, pattern recognition, lean six sigma, and healthcare systems engineering. Beth has published nine books and over 90 journal papers, eighty refereed conference papers, and has additional work awaiting publication.

Education

    Ph.D., Engineering Management, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 2006
    MBA, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, 2002
    Masters of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, 2000
    B.S., Industrial Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1996

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

    Quality Engineering, Healthcare Systems Engineering, Lean Six Sigma

Websites

Books

News

Cudney named ASEM Fellow

By: Elizabeth "Beth" A. Cudney

Dr. Elizabeth Cudney, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has been named a 2014 Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM).

Cudney, who served as the society’s president this past year, was named a Fellow on Oct. 17 at the ASEM annual international conference. Fellowship is the highest level of membership in the society and is awarded to those who demonstrate significant engineering management accomplishments and continue to serve the society.

Cudney, who earned a Ph.D. in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 2006, joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 2007. She is an associate member of the International Academy for Quality and a Fellow and past winner of the Armand V. Feigenbaum Medal from the American Society for Quailty (ASQ). The Feigenbaum Medal rewards outstanding leadership, professionalism and potential in the field of quality. Cudney also received the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award for her contributions and accomplishments in the manufacturing industry.

Cudney holds eight ASQ certifications, which include ASQ-certified quality engineer, certified manager of quality and organizational excellence and certified Six Sigma Black Belt, among others.

ASEM speaks for the profession of engineering management around the world. Members include academics from engineering management departments and closely affiliated departments, as well as engineering management professionals from a wide variety of industries.

Cudney elected ASQ Fellow

By: Elizabeth "Beth" A. Cudney

Dr. Beth Cudney, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, has been elected a 2013 Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) in recognition of her contributions to quality.

Cudney will be presented with a Fellow pin and honored at the 2014 World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Dallas on May 4, 2014.

The honor is awarded for outstanding leadership, professionalism and exceptional contributions to the advancement of quality and lean in education and the manufacturing industry through the structure, development and design of course content, publication of many papers and editing of the Quality Management Forum.

To be considered by the society examining committee, Fellow candidates must have 15 years of active experience in quality related positions, be a senior member of ASQ in good standing for five consecutive years and have attained distinction in quality-related disciplines. Cudney has an established record of contributions, both to the quality profession and to the society.

Cudney receives Lean Teaching Award

By: Elizabeth "Beth" A. Cudney

Beth Cudney, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering, was awarded the 2012 Lean Teaching Award by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). This award is given annually to recognize the contribution of individuals in advancing the knowledge and practice of lean concepts. The award is based on the contributions in the areas of leadership, design and content quality, applied learning, innovation and student satisfaction. Cudney received the award at the 2012 IIE Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., in May. The IIE is the world's largest professional society dedicated to supporting the industrial engineers profession.

Cudney elected to International Academy for Quality

By: Elizabeth "Beth" A. Cudney

Dr. Elizabeth Cudney, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, was recently elected associate member of the International Academy for Quality.

The IAC is an independent, non-profit organization that brings together academic and business leaders to examine global issues of managerial and occupational quality.

Cudney, who also serves as associate director of Missouri S&T’s Design Engineering Center, joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 2007.

Interested in quality and lean manufacturing, Cudney has published more than 40 scholarly articles on those subjects. In 2009, her book Using Hoshin Kanri to Improve the Value Stream was published by Productivity Press. The book is a how-to guide that any organization may use to streamline their processes and keep the effort on track.

Cudney is a past winner of the American Society for Quality’s Armand V. Feigenbaum Medal, which is presented to young professionals who have displayed outstanding leadership in the quality field. She received that medal in 2007. She is an ASQ certified quality engineer, certified manager of quality/organizational excellence, certified quality improvement associate and a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. A former president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) Lean Division, Cudney is a member of the Rotary Club of Rolla, Mo., the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASQ, IIE, ASEM and the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Cudney received her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration from the University of Hartford. She earned her doctoral degree in engineering management from Missouri S&T in 2006.

Prior to returning to school for her doctorate, Cudney worked for more than five years at Jacobs Vehicle Systems in Bloomfield, Conn., in various roles including Six Sigma Black Belt, quality and process engineer, quality auditor, senior manufacturing engineer and manufacturing manager.