Step 7. We ran the experiment… Now what? We have data, we need knowledge. What we mean by information — the elementary unit of information — is a difference which makes a difference. (Gregory Bateson) At the end of step 6, we had an experimental plan that the entire team could understand and that was… Read More »
Step 6. How do we actually get the data? At the end of Section 5 we have an array of points that statistically should produce data adequate to generating a useful result. However, “Designing an experiment is like gambling with the Devil…” (Sir R. A. Fisher). The ever-present noise of our equipment, laboratory, building, city,… Read More »
Step 5. What do we do in the laboratory? “You can’t fix by analysis what you bungled by design.” – By Design (Light, Singer and Willett) This is the part of the experimental strategy process where most Design of Experiments (DOE) classes start. The student is taught about Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), factorial designs, and… Read More »
Step 4. Do we have the resources? “The amateurs discuss tactics: the professionals discuss logistics.” – Napoleon Bonaparte It is really frustrating to get half way through an experiment and then get pulled off for “higher priority” work. If that happens during a designed experiment, the return for your effort could be ZERO! In this… Read More »
Step 3. How to vary the right factors – by the right amounts To find out what happens when you change something, it is necessary to change it. (Box, Hunter, & Hunter) Have you ever looked at an experiment and wondered how you could possibly decide which factors to test? In this post you’ll learn… Read More »
Step 2. What are we measuring? Are we measuring it well? Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted. (Albert Einstein) In the previous step, we discussed ways to move from the goals and objectives of the business to unbiased, specific and measurable laboratory objectives. Now we need… Read More »
What are we doing? How do we move forward? “Ready, fire, aim”… Not the best way to start a program – but WAY too common. The Japanese have the maxim “aim slow, shoot fast”. It seems to work better. To get the most useful information out of experimental program, a few hours of thought and… Read More »
“After 12,000 experiments we could only find three significant factors”. So said one of the Union Carbide experts who did the post-mortem on the project. And none of them gave a path to a commercial process. And this was my very first industrial assignment! This project was a top-priority Union Carbide chemistry research program… to… Read More »
I was recently contacted by a potential client who was swamped with old process data. His process had been running more or less profitably for decades without real scientific attention. His management finally started pushing him to make it more profitable. His first item of concern was the state of the data. Why is his… Read More »