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2 CHAPTER 1 THE ROLE OF STATISTICS IN ENGINEERING

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1-1 THE ENGINEERING METHOD AND STATISTICAL THINKING

An engineer is someone who solves problems of interest to society by the efficient application
of scientific principles. Engineers accomplish this by either refining an existing product or
process or by designing a new product or process that meets customers’needs. The engineering,
or scientific, method is the approach to formulating and solving these problems. The steps in
the engineering method are as follows:
1. Develop a clear and concise description of the problem.
2. Identify, at least tentatively, the important factors that affect this problem or that may
play a role in its solution.
3. Propose a model for the problem, using scientific or engineering knowledge of the
phenomenon being studied. State any limitations or assumptions of the model.
4. Conduct appropriate experiments and collect data to test or validate the tentative
model or conclusions made in steps 2 and 3.
5. Refine the model on the basis of the observed data.
6. Manipulate the model to assist in developing a solution to the problem.
7. Conduct an appropriate experiment to confirm that the proposed solution to the prob-
lem is both effective and efficient.
8. Draw conclusions or make recommendations based on the problem solution.
The steps in the engineering method are shown in Fig. 1-1. Notice that the engineering method
features a strong interplay between the problem, the factors that may influence its solution, a
model of the phenomenon, and experimentation to verify the adequacy of the model and the
proposed solution to the problem. Steps 2–4 in Fig. 1-1 are enclosed in a box, indicating that
several cycles or iterations of these steps may be required to obtain the final solution.
Consequently, engineers must know how to efficiently plan experiments, collect data, analyze
and interpret the data, and understand how the observed data are related to the model they
have proposed for the problem under study.
The field of statistics deals with the collection, presentation, analysis, and use of data to
make decisions, solve problems, and design products and processes. Because many aspects of
engineering practice involve working with data, obviously some knowledge of statistics is
important to any engineer. Specifically, statistical techniques can be a powerful aid in design-
ing new products and systems, improving existing designs, and designing, developing, and
improving production processes.

Develop a Identify the Propose or Manipulate Confirm Conclusions
clear important refine a the the and
description factors model model solution recommendations

Conduct
experiments
Figure 1-1 The
engineering method.