CHAPTER 1:

OBTAINING DATA
• Methods of Data Collection
• Planning and Conducting Surveys
• Planning and Conducting Experiments;
Introduction to Design of Experiments
STATISTICS
Statistics contains a set of concepts, rules,
and procedures that help us to:
• organize numerical information in the
form of tables, graphs, and charts;
• understand statistical techniques
underlying decisions that affect our lives
and well-being; and
• make informed decisions.
STATISTICS
Statistics contains a set of concepts, rules,
and procedures that help us to:
• organize numerical information in the
form of tables, graphs, and charts;
• understand statistical techniques
underlying decisions that affect our lives
and well-being; and
• make informed decisions.
Use of Statistics in the Engineering
Field

*Collection *Make Decisions

*Presentation *Solve Problems
*Use of Data *Design
Products and
Processes
The
Engineering
Method
RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
• A retrospective study may involve a
lot of data, but those data may
contain relatively little useful
information about the problem.
• Some of the relevant data may be
missing, there may be transcription
or recording errors resulting in
outliers (or unusual values), or
data on other important factors may
not have been collected and
archived.
• Statistical analysis of historical data sometimes identifies
interesting phenomena, but solid and reliable
explanations of these phenomena are often difficult to
obtain.
OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

In an observational study, the

engineer observes the
process or population,
disturbing it as little as
possible, and records the
quantities of interest.

Because these studies are usually conducted for a

relatively short time period, sometimes
variables that are not routinely measured can be
included.
DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS
In a designed experiment the
engineer makes deliberate
or purposeful changes in
the controllable variables
of the system or process,
observes the resulting
system output data, and
then makes an inference
or decision about which
variables are responsible for
the observed changes in
output performance.
PLANNING AND CONDUCTING
SURVEYS: Survey Methods

Telephone

Mail Personal
Interview
 PLANNING AND CONDUCTING
SURVEYS
Method Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Questionnaires To gather Anonymity Difficulties of
large size of Cheaper ensuring greater
information Generating depth for the
in a short large amount research
period of of data
time The problem of
the ‘first choice
selection’
 PLANNING AND CONDUCTING
SURVEYS
Method Purpose Advantages Disadvantage
s
Interviews To reflect The process of Time-
emotions and data collection consuming
experiences, can be directed. Additional
and explore costs might be
issues with a Collect incurred
greater focus required/specific Potential for
type of interviewee bias
information
 PLANNING AND CONDUCTING
SURVEYS
Method Purpose Advantages Disadvantages
Documentation To study Possibility to Access to
review issues that retrieve documentation
have comprehensive
developed information Inflexibility of
over a the research
specific process
period of
time
Advantages of Survey Method
• Faster and cheaper compared to
other methods of primary data
collection
• Primary data gathered through
surveys are relatively easy to
analyze
Disadvantages of Survey Method
• Unwillingness or inability of
respondents to provide
information
• Human bias of respondents
• Differences in understanding
Purposes of Engineering
Experiments
• reduce time to design/develop new
products & processes
• improve performance of existing processes
• improve reliability and performance of
products
• achieve product & process robustness
• perform evaluation of materials, design
alternatives, setting component & system
tolerances, etc.
PLANNING AND CONDUCTING
EXPERIMENT
• Recognition and statement of the problem
• Choice of factors, levels, and ranges
• Selection of the response variable(s)
• Choice of design
• Conducting the experiment
• Statistical analysis
• Drawing conclusions, and making
recommendations
INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN OF
EXPERIMENTS (DOE)
• By using designed experiments, engineers can
determine which subset of the process
variables has the greatest influence on
process performance. The results of such
an experiment can lead to
• Improved process yield
• Reduced variability in the process and closer
conformance to nominal or target requirements
• Reduced design and development time
• Reduced cost of operation
 INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN OF
EXPERIMENTS (DOE)
• Every experiment involves a sequence of activities:

Conjecture Experiment Analysis Conclusion

• the original • the test • the • what has

hypothesis performed statistical been
that to analysis of learned
motivates investigate the data about the
the the from the original
experiment. conjecture. experiment. conjecture
from the
experiment..