Statistical Methods for Quality Engineering
I.D. # C0554 Duration 3 Days

Based on your test data or process data, do you ever wonder if:

  • An improved product really performs better?
  • A substitute material really processes the same?
  • A cheaper material really performs satisfactorily?
  • What confidence do you have in the final decision that you make?


This seminar will help individuals responsible for product or process development and testing to statistically assess the variation of the product or process performance and make effective decisions with confidence. Technical personnel are consistently making changes to product and process designs and the resultant performance changes need a statistical basis for moving ahead to the cost assessment and release phases. Various continuous and discrete probability functions will be covered with the normal distribution receiving the most emphasis. Other distributions including Weibull, Exponential, Binomial, Poisson, Hypergeometric, and nonparametric comparisons will be covered. Various confidence intervals and tests of comparison, including Z test, Student's t tests, Chi-Square test, F test, and ANOVA for the normal distribution for these probability functions are covered.

Attendees will work along with the instructor on many examples throughout the seminar and should bring a scientific or statistical calculator to class for the various activities.
Learning Objectives
By attending this seminar, you will be able to:
  • Select the proper distribution model
  • Determine valid sample sizes
  • Design valid tests of comparison
  • Make effective decisions at stated confidence levels
Who Should Attend
This course applies to anyone making product or process assessment or changes and will help them to make effective decisions concerning those situations. Product design managers and engineers, process design managers and engineers, and quality managers and engineers will particularly benefit from this course. Individuals seeking to attain the Certified Quality Engineering status within the American Society for Quality will find this course particularly helpful.
Prerequisites
Participants should have at least high school mathematics and graphing skills, a good technical understanding of products and processes in their work environment, and a good technical understanding of testing methods and protocols.
Seminar Content
DAY ONE
  • Introduction
    • Training objectives
    • Statistical resources
  • Concept of variation
    • Common development questions
    • Histograms
    • Descriptive statistics
  • Distribution Models
    • Continuous
    • Discrete
    • Applications
  • Model Selection
    • Empirical distribution functions
    • Cumulative distribution functions
    • Normal probability paper
    • Small sample sizes and median ranks
    • Tests for normality

DAY TWO
  • Parametric Evaluations and Tests
    • Normal and log-normal data -- Z confidence intervals and tests; t confidence intervals and tests; Chi-Square confidence intervals and tests; K factor confidence intervals; F tests;
DAY THREE
  • Parametric Evaluations and Tests (continued) -- analysis of variance
    • Weibull distribution, confidence intervals and tests
    • Exponential distribution tests
    • Poission distribution applications
    • Binomial distribution applications
    • Hypergeometric applications
  • Nonparametric Tests
    • Sign tests
    • Run tests
    • Rank tests
Instructor(s): Phillip J. Ross
Phillip J. Ross is President of Quality Services International, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in quality and statistical training. He has accumulated over 4500 hours of classroom instruction teaching courses in quality, design tools, and manufacturing processes and problem solving in the United States, Great Britain, Holland, Japan, and Singapore. Prior to his consulting business, Mr. Ross worked for General Motors in automotive powertrain design and development and automobile manufacturing and assembly. He first worked with Allison Transmission Division in product design/development and then with Saturn Corporation in the manufacturing and assembly aspects. Mr. Ross was involved in the design phase of many transmission components and systems, developed statistical/quality methods and training, and performed process development. He also performed process development for lost foam casting, painting, molding, and others while at Saturn. Mr. Ross is the author of the book Taguchi Techniques for Quality Engineering which has sold over 35,000 copies worldwide, has had articles published in Quality Progress by ASQC and in Target by AME and is the holder of three patents on product design. Mr. Ross received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute, and is an ASQ Fellow and Certified Quality Engineer.
Testimonial
"This course gave me a set of skills I could immediately apply to my work."
John E. Skog
President
MTEC LLC
Fees: $1545 SAE Members*: $1236 - $1391
* The appropriate SAE Member discount will be applied through the Registration process.  Discounts vary according to level of membership: Elite Member 20%; Premium Member 15%; Classic Member 10%
CEU 2