Statistics and measurements

For more than 50 years, the Statistical Engineering Division (SED) has been instrumental in the success of a broad spectrum of metrology projects at N BS/NIST. This paper highlights fundamental contributions of NBS/NIST statis ticians to statistics and to measurement science and technology. Published methods developed by SED staff, especially during the early years, endure a s cornerstones of statistics not only in metrology and standards applicatio ns, but as data-analytic resources used across all disciplines. The history of statistics at NBS/NIST began with the formation of what is now the SED. Examples from the first five decades of the SED illustrate the critical ro le of the division in the successful resolution of a few of the highly visi ble, and sometimes controversial, statistical studies of national importanc e. A review of the history of major early publications of the division on s tatistical methods, design of experiments, and error analysis and uncertain ty is followed by a survey of several thematic areas. The accompanying exam ples illustrate the importance of SED in the history of statistics, measure ments and standards: calibration and measurement assurance, interlaboratory tests, development of measurement methods, Standard Reference Materials, s tatistical computing, and dissemination of measurement technology. A brief look forward sketches the expanding opportunity and demand for SED statisti cians created by current trends in research and development at NIST.