Armand V. Feigenbaum ’42, the originator of Total Quality Control, and seven other individuals from across the country will receive the 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Bush at a White House ceremony Monday, Sept. 29.
A day earlier, these leading innovators will attend a black-tie ceremony as recipients of America’s highest honor for technological achievement.
The award is “given to individuals, teams and/or companies/divisions for their outstanding contributions to the nation’s economic, environmental and social well-being through the development and commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts; technological innovation; and development of the nation’s technological manpower,” according to the medal’s Web site.
Armand and his brother, Donald S. Feigenbaum ’46, of Pittsfield, Mass., are longtime Union benefactors. Armand was worldwide manager of manufacturing operations and quality control for General Electric, and Donald had major management responsibilities in GE’s jet engine business when they founded General Systems Company in 1968.
The Pittsfield-based international systems engineering firm designs and implements integrated management systems for major corporations throughout the world.
Armand Feigenbaum’s book on Total Quality Control has been published in many languages and is the basic text on quality systems and improvement. It was first published in 1951, and a 50th anniversary edition was released in 2002.
Union President Stephen C. Ainlay and his wife, Judith, along with Donald, have been invited to Washington for the dinner and awards ceremony.
“We are proud and thrilled to join the Feigenbaums for this special occasion,” Ainlay said. “Union has a history of producing and nurturing creative minds, and Armand embodies this innovative Union spirit.”