Are statistics important to safeguards

Over the past 35 years statistics and statisticians have come to play more significant roles in accounting for nuclear materials. Examples are statistical evaluation of MUF or book-inventory differences, and sample exchange programs. Statistics are employed to design and evaluate measurement control programs, calibrations, and sampling procedures, and to analyze accountancy data to identify and correct major sources of error. For the future: measurements should be improved, sensitivity analysis should be performed routinely to identify weaknesses, statistical quality control principles should be applied to the analysis of accountancy data and to estimation of material hold-up, and safeguards should be designed into all new facilities