I always look forward to this time of year. Not in anticipation of prezzies under the tree, but for what changes 2009 will bring.

First, this issue brings you the last columns for two long-time columnists.

Davis Balestracci’s no-nonsense approach to statistics has been popular with our readers for four years. Irreverent, confrontational, and, hey, let’s say it, just a bit feisty, Davis has challenged our readers’ inbred assumptions about when and how to use statistics. Thanks, Davis, for four years of wit and wisdom and showing us how to “plot the dots.”

Stepping in to take Davis’ place is a man often quoted by Davis, Donald J. Wheeler. As the author of 24 books and hundreds of articles, he is one of the leading authorities on statistical process control and applied data analysis. He is a Fellow of both the American Statistical Association and the American Society for Quality. Don was also Quality Digest’s SPC columnist from January 1996 to December 1997. Welcome back, Don.

Jack West is also leaving us. Jack has been our encyclopedic reference on the ISO 9001 standard for more than four and a half years. Not only has he helped readers make sense of the standard’s language, he’s also helped readers understand how to implement it. Thanks, Jack, for being our resource for everything on ISO 9001.

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