1-1 Statistics in Engineering

An engineer is someone who solves problems of

interest to society by the efficient application of
scientific principles by
• Refining existing products
• Designing new products or processes
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

The field of Statistics deals with the collection,

presentation, analysis, and use of data to
• Make decisions
• Solve problems
• Design products and processes
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

• Statistical techniques are useful for describing and

understanding variability.
• By variability, we mean successive observations of a
system or phenomenon do not produce exactly the same
result.
• Statistics gives us a framework for describing this
variability and for learning about potential sources of
variability.
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

Engineering Example

An engineer is designing a nylon connector to be used in an

automotive engine application. The engineer is considering
establishing the design specification on wall thickness at 3/32
inch but is somewhat uncertain about the effect of this decision
on the connector pull-off force. If the pull-off force is too low,
the connector may fail when it is installed in an engine. Eight
prototype units are produced and their pull-off forces measured
(in pounds): 12.6, 12.9, 13.4, 12.3, 13.6, 13.5, 12.6, 13.1.
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

Engineering Example

•The dot diagram is a very useful plot for displaying a small

body of data - say up to about 20 observations.
• This plot allows us to see easily two features of the data; the
location, or the middle, and the scatter or variability.
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

Engineering Example

• The engineer considers an alternate design and eight prototypes

are built and pull-off force measured.
• The dot diagram can be used to compare two sets of data

Figure 1-3 Dot diagram of pull-off force for two

wall thicknesses.
 1-1 Statistics in Engineering

Engineering Example

• Since pull-off force varies or exhibits variability, it is a

random variable.
• A random variable, X, can be model by
X=+
where  is a constant and  a random disturbance.
1-1 Statistics in Engineering
1-2 Collecting Engineering Data

Three basic methods for collecting data:

– A retrospective study using historical data
– An observational study
– A designed experiment
1-2 Collecting Engineering Data

– A retrospective study using historical data

would use either all or a sample of the
historical process data archived over
some period of time.
1-2 Collecting Engineering Data

– An observational study: the engineer

observes the process or population,
disturbing it
1-2 Collecting Engineering Data

– A designed experiment: the engineer

makes deliberate in the controlable
variables of the system, observes the
resulting system output data
 Determine whether the given description corresponds to
an observational study or an experiment

1. Physicians at the Mount Sinai Medical Center studied New

York City residents with and without respiratory problems.
They went back in time to determine how those residents
were involved in the terrorist attacks in New York City on
September 11, 2001.

2. A Gallup poll surveyed 1018 adults by telephone, and 22% of them

reported that they smoked cigarettes within the past week.

3. A study of the effectiveness of echinacea involved 707 cases of

upper
respiratory tract infections. Children with 337 of the infections were
given echinacea, and children with 370 of the infections were given
placebos.
1-2.5 Observing Processes Over Time

Figure 1-9 A time series plot of concentration provides

more information than a dot diagram.
1-2 Observing Processes Over Time
Whenever data are collected over time it is important to plot
the data over time. Phenomena that might affect the system
or process often become more visible in a time-oriented plot
and the concept of stability can be better judged.

Figure 1-8 The dot diagram illustrates variation but does

not identify the problem.
1-3 Mechanistic and Empirical Models

A mechanistic model is built from our underlying

knowledge of the basic physical mechanism that relates
several variables.
Example: Ohm’s Law
Current = voltage/resistance
I = E/R
I = E/R + 
1-3 Mechanistic and Empirical Models

An empirical model is built from our engineering and

scientific knowledge of the phenomenon, but is not
directly developed from our theoretical or first-
principles understanding of the underlying mechanism.
1-3 Mechanistic and Empirical Models

In general, this type of empirical model is called a

regression model.

The estimated regression line is given by

Figure 1-15 Three-dimensional plot of the wire and pull
strength data.
1-4 Probability and Probability Models

Figure 1-16 Plot of the predicted values of pull strength

from the empirical model.
1-4 Probability and Probability Models

• Probability models help quantify the

risks involved in statistical inference, that
is, risks involved in decisions made every
day.
• Probability provides the framework for
the study and application of statistics.
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.1 Random Experiments

Definition
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.2 Sample Spaces

Definition
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.2 Sample Spaces

Example 2-1
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events
Example 2-1 (continued)
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Example 2-2
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Example 2-2 (continued)

 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Tree Diagrams
 Sample spaces can also be described graphically
with tree diagrams.
– When a sample space can be constructed in several
steps or stages, we can represent each of the n1 ways
of completing the first step as a branch of a tree.
– Each of the ways of completing the second step can
be represented as n2 branches starting from the ends
of the original branches, and so forth.
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Example 2-3
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Figure 2-5 Tree diagram for three messages.

 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.3 Events
Definition
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.3 Events
Basic Set Operations
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

2-1.3 Events
Example 2-6
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Definition
 2-1 Sample Spaces and Events

Venn Diagrams

Figure 2-8 Venn diagrams.

2.1.4 Counting Techniques
A printed circuit board has eight different locations in which a
component can be placed. If four different components are to
be placed on the board, how many different designs are
possible?