Elizabeth Cudney, PhD, is an assistant professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She received her B.S. in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, Master of Engineering in mechanical engineering with a manufacturing specialization and MBA from the University of Hartford, and her doctorate in engineering management from the University of Missouri – Rolla. In 2010, she was inducted into the ASQ International Academy for Quality. She received the 2007 ASQ A.V. Feigenbaum Medal and the 2006 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award. She is a senior member of ASQ and an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence and certified Six Sigma Black Belt. She can be reached at cudney@mst.edu.