Advanced Design of Experiments

Many R&D experimenters, design and development engineers and scientists are using an OFAT (one-factor-at-a-time) approach to their experimental designs. In addition to the issue of inefficiency (unnecessarily large number of experiments), this approach fails to identify often crucially important interaction effects among factors. There are available to experimenters advanced analytical tools based on advanced mathematical techniques and utilising special computer software, which will enable them to gain a deep understanding of their processes, including the impact of interactions among factors, and to do so in the most efficient manner with minimum numbers of experimental runs.  These modern DOE tools will be presented on this training course.

Delivery Mode

  • Customised
    In-Company
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Course Code
CPI002

What's covered?

The course is presented in two modules:
Module 1 – Three-day programme in which the participants will be trained in the use of DOE factorial techniques, including the statistics that underlie DOE.  The objective of factorial DOE is to identify the few factors, among many possible factors, which have an effect on the response.  On day three of module 1, delegates will partake in a practical workshop designing experiments, applicable to their own area of work.

Module 2- Two-day programme devoted to the optimization techniques of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Mixture Design. On day two of module 2, delegates will partake in a practical workshop designing experiments, applicable to their own area of work.

The training course is built around more than 30 real-life case studies, mainly from the chemical, electronics, and engineering manufacturing industries.  The cases studies have been carefully selected to demonstrate all of the key principles of DOE. Delegates will work their way through these practical case studies learning the techniques of DOE and the advanced software that is used to design and analyze experiments.

Module 1
Days 1 – 3: Factorial and Fractional Factorial Designs

Day 1: Statistics that Underlie Design of Experiments

  • Introduction to basic statistics-understanding variation in processes
  • Mean, standard deviation, degrees of freedom
  • The normal and standard normal distributions – their importance in DOE
  • The normal probability plot and the Anderson Darling statistic – understanding the importance of normality and how to test for normality
  • Explanation of tail values, alpha values and p-values
  • Hypothesis testing – 2-sample t-test and F-test
  • Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and introduction to experimental design with one factor

Note: Regression analysis will be left over to Day 1 of module 2.

Days 2 – 3:  Design and Analysis of Experiments

  • Planning the experiment and determining the experimental objective.
  • Explanation of the terminology – responses, factors, levels, replication, repetition, randomization, design points, design runs
  • Understanding the statistical importance of avoiding excess variation in experiments – the role of measurement and careful control of the experiments
  • Establishing the basic principles with a two factor and three factor design – explanation of main effects and interactions
  • Analysis of experimental results using the two-sample t-test, ANOVA, and the probability plot
  • Screening out the non-significant factors
  • Understanding how to interpret interaction plots
  • The role of blocking in DOE
  • The need to reduce the number of runs when there are a large number of factors involved – the concept of using fractional factorial designs
  • “Folding over” to improve resolution of factorial designs
  • Practical exercise designing an experiment applicable to the delegates own area of work.

Module 2

Days 4 and 5: Optimization with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Mixture Designs

  • Overview of the factorial designs linking the work covered in Module 1 to the RSM techniques in Module 2
  • Regression analysis – modelling with regression - lack-of-fit analysis, correlation analysis, R-squared, R-squared adjusted, R squared predicted
  • The objectives of RSM - Optimizing the settings of the input factors which affect the response
  • Understanding the quadratic model – selecting the appropriate model – adjusting the model for best results
  • Finding the best compromise between multiple responses using advanced mathematical techniques and computer software
  • Optimal designs – using advanced mathematical techniques and computer software to select the most appropriate runs in a reduced set of candidate points
  • Mixture designs – experimenting with component proportions to achieve optimum formulation
  • Designs with constraints – Optimal mixture designs
  • Combined Designs using combination of mixture components and process factors
  • Practical exercise designing an experiment applicable to the delegates own area of work.

The time span between the presentations of the two modules can be arranged to suit the requirements of the delegates.

Note:  Course can be presented in four days if Mixture Design is not required.

Who should participate?

  • All R&D personnel
  • Design and development engineers and scientists
  • Process Engineers

A prior knowledge of statistics is not required. However, the participants should have knowledge of mathematical principles, for example, Leaving Certificate or A-level mathematics.

What will I learn?

Participants achieve the following learning outcomes from the programme;

  • Plan and execute screening experiments to select factors that affect the process
  • Analyse factor effects and interaction effects using specialist computer software
  • Use advanced mathematical techniques to construct and model response surfaces
  • Select factor and component levels to simultaneously optimise multiple responses

Who are the tutors?

Albert Plant

With a background of thirty year’s practical experience, Albert Plant is Ireland’s leading trainer and consultant in the application of statistics.  Combining degrees in Engineering and Statistics, he brings a unique blend of a deep understanding of manufacturing technology with expertise in all aspects of statistical data analysis to his training courses.  Attendees on Albert’s training courses include people, many with PhD’s, undertaking the most advanced research and development in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, nanotechnology, and other leading-edge specialities, who require statistical skills to understand the outcome of their research work.

Many customers require that the training courses be customised, and Albert has developed a high level of expertise in meeting this requirement.  His In-House courses typically incorporate company data, and both the length and content of the courses are agreed in advance with the customer, to meet very specific needs.

Minitab is the leading brand of general-purpose statistical software. Albert has used Minitab in his training and consultancy work for more than 25 years.  He proposed to the Minitab company that they introduce a module in Acceptance Sampling, and he contributed to the early development of the module, which was launched with new versions of the software in 2006.  Albert also has expertise in other statistical software, such as Design Expert, which he uses in Design of Experiments.


Grainne Heneghan

Grainne is a highly experienced Continuous Improvement and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 20 years’ experience in the global IT industry.

Grainne has many years of experience of developing and delivering training and working with Quality and Lean Six Sigma methodologies, tools and techniques, with focus on improving processes, reducing waste and decreasing costs for teams and organisations. She is resourceful and adaptable and uses strong communication and interpersonal skills along with metrics, data and logic to ensure that teams achieve their goals and successfully implement change within their organisations.

Grainne has trained and coached many Yellow, Green and Black Belt students to successful certification. Along with many years training in a traditional classroom style, she spent 4 years training using an online Virtual Classroom while working at Hewlett Packard. This included virtual training in Minitab and Statistical Concepts alongside softer skills such as Brainstorming for Root Cause Analysis and How to Complete FMEAs. She likes to blend her efficient organising skills and strong attention to detail with a softer empathetic and practical approach to projects. She is open-minded with a holistic and positive approach when working with teams.

Grainne enjoys working with teams and training students to use and to get the most from tools such as Minitab, and other statistical methods and techniques.


How do we train and support you?

In-House Courses
For In-House courses the tutor will contact you in advance to discuss the course programme in more detail in order to tailor it specifically for your organisation. Where appropriate and facilitated by the company, the course can be run using Minitab or Design Expert software.

Course Manual
Delegates will receive a very comprehensive course manual, which explains the underlying statistics, describes the principles of experimental design, explains in detail how experiments are designed and analysed, includes examples of several practical case studies, includes instructions for operating the software, and incorporates completed versions of all the course exercises and graphs, including the output from Design Expert or Minitab computer software. The course manual will provide a very useful reference for participants undertaking the design and analysis of experiments when they return to their workplace.

What software do we use?

Minitab is a leading brand of general-purpose statistical software with powerful DOE capability.  Design Expert is special-purpose DOE software incorporating the most advanced mathematical techniques available for DOE, and utilizing state of the art graphics.

Delegates will need to have either Minitab (versions 20 or 21) or Design Expert (versions 10 or 11) loaded on laptop computers.  Trial versions of the software, suitable for training, are available - Design Expert (free 45 day trial available on www.statease.com) or Minitab 20 or 21 (free 30 day trial available on www.minitab.com). The course will be organised to ensure that full use can be made of the free versions of the software.

Mixture Design is presented only with Design Expert software.

Grainne Heneghan

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Grainne Heneghan

Duration: 5 days
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