HKUST’s Prof. Fugee TSUNG Awarded Prestigious 2025 Shewhart Medal, the “Nobel Prize of Quality Control”
Prof. Fugee TSUNG, Chair Professor of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Chair Professor of Data Science & Analytics Thrust and Computational Media & Arts Thrust at HKUST (Guangzhou), has been honored with the 2025 Shewhart Medal by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Widely regarded as the “Nobel Prize in the quality field,” this accolade recognizes Prof. Tsung’s transformative contributions to statistical process control, industrial quality improvement, and academic leadership. He joins an elite group of Chinese scholars to receive this award since its inception in 1948.
The Shewhart Medal, named after Walter A. Shewhart, the father of statistical quality control, celebrates individuals who have driven groundbreaking advancements in quality theory and practice. Prof. Tsung was formally presented with the medal at the 2025 ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Denver, Colorado, on May 4, 2025. The award citation lauds him for “pioneering advanced statistical process control, significantly improving industrial system quality, and demonstrating exceptional academic leadership and impactful mentorship.”
A Legacy of Excellence
The Shewhart Medal has historically honored luminaries such as W. Edwards Deming, George Box, Kaoru Ishikawa, and Genichi Taguchi. Prof. Tsung’s recognition places him among these trailblazers, underscoring his global impact on quality engineering and data-driven industrial innovation.
Gratitude and Vision
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Tsung expressed profound appreciation for his mentors, collaborators, and students: “I am deeply honored to receive the distinguished Shewhart Medal. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Jan Shi, Jeff Wu, Greg Watson, Ken Case, and Dennis Lin for their nomination and steadfast mentorship throughout my career. I am also thankful for the invaluable research support provided by the Quality and Data Analytics Lab (QLab) at HKUST and the Institute of Industrial Informatics and Intelligence (Triple-i) at HKUST(GZ). Finally, I extend my sincere appreciation to all my former students for their significant contributions; it is a privilege to see so many of them building outstanding careers devoted to advancing quality control research and practice,” said Prof. Tsung.
A Global Leader in Quality and Analytics
Ranked among the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists (Stanford-Elsevier Mendeley), Prof. Tsung bridges academic rigor and industrial application. He leads HKUST’s Quality and Data Analytics Lab and the Industrial Informatics and Intelligence Institute at HKUST (GZ), driving cutting-edge research in industrial AI and smart systems. His editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Quality Technology (JQT) and prior roles as Head of HKUST’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics and Founding Acting Dean of the Information Hub at HKUST (GZ) further highlight his academic stewardship.
A Fellow of the American Statistical Association, American Society for Quality, and International Academy for Quality, among others, Prof. Tsung’s work has redefined quality control methodologies across industries worldwide.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, 19th Worldwide and No.1 in Hong Kong in Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings. Thirteen HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, with “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” holding the 17th place, maintaining its position as first in Hong Kong. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of November 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 16 exits (IPO or M&A).
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