Probabilistic Design for Optimization and Robustness: Presents the theory of modeling with variation using physical models and methods for practical applications on designs more insensitive to variation. Provides a comprehensive guide to optimization and robustness for probabilistic design. Features examples, case studies and exercises throughout. The methods presented can be applied to a wide range of disciplines such as mechanics, electrics, chemistry, aerospace, industry and engineering. This text is supported by an accompanying website featuring videos, interactive animations to aid the readers understanding.

Table of Contents:
Preface ix Acknowledgments xi 1 New product development process 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Phases of new product development 2 1.2.1 Phase I—concept planning 3 1.2.2 Phase II—product planning 4 1.2.3 Phase III—product engineering design and verification 6 1.2.4 Phase IV—process engineering 9 1.2.5 Phase V—manufacturing validation and ramp-up 10 1.3 Patterns of new product development 11 1.4 New product development and Design for Six Sigma 13 1.4.1 DfSS core objectives 13 1.4.2 DfSS methodology 15 1.4.3 Embedded DfSS 16 1.5 Summary 17 Exercises 17 2 Statistical background for engineering design 19 2.1 Expectation 19 2.2 Statistical distributions 24 2.2.1 Normal distribution 24 2.2.2 Lognormal distribution 27 2.2.3 Weibull distribution 30 2.2.4 Exponential distribution 32 2.3 Probability plotting 34 2.3.1 Probability plotting—lognormal distribution 35 2.3.2 Probability plotting—normal distribution 36 2.3.3 Probability plotting—Weibull distribution 37 2.3.4 Probability plotting—exponential distribution 39 2.3.5 Probability plotting with confidence limits 40 2.4 Summary 43 Exercises 44 3 Introduction to variation in engineering design 46 3.1 Variation in engineering design 46 3.2 Propagation of error 47 3.3 Protecting designs against variation 48 3.4 Estimates of means and variances of functions of several variables 51 3.5 Statistical bias 59 3.6 Robustness 59 3.7 Summary 60 Exercises 61 4 Monte Carlo simulation 63 4.1 Determining variation of the inputs 63 4.2 Random number generators 64 4.3 Validation 66 4.4 Stratified sampling 70 4.5 Summary 74 Exercises 75 5 Modeling variation of complex systems 76 5.1 Approximating the mean, bias, and variance 77 5.2 Estimating the parameters of non-normal distributions 81 5.3 Limitations of first-order Taylor series approximation for variance 84 5.4 Effect of non-normal input distributions 91 5.5 Nonconstant input standard deviation 93 5.6 Summary 93 Exercises 95 6 Desirability 98 6.1 Introduction 98 6.2 Requirements and scorecards 99 6.2.1 Types of requirements 100 6.2.2 Design scorecard 101 6.3 Desirability—single requirement 103 6.3.1 Desirability—one-sided limit 104 6.3.2 Desirability—two-sided limit 106 6.3.3 Desirability—nonlinear function 107 6.4 Desirability—multiple requirements 109 6.4.1 Maxi-min total desirability index 114 6.5 Desirability—accounting for variation 115 6.5.1 Determining desirability—using expected yields 115 6.5.2 Determining desirability—using non-mean responses 116 6.6 Summary 118 Exercises 118 7 Optimization and sensitivity 123 7.1 Optimization procedure 123 7.2 Statistical outliers 128 7.3 Process capability 129 7.4 Sensitivity and cost reduction 133 7.4.1 Reservoir flow example 134 7.4.2 Reservoir flow initial solution 135 7.4.3 Reservoir flow initial solution verification 136 7.4.4 Reservoir flow optimized with normal horsepower distribution 138 7.4.5 Reservoir flow optimized with normal horsepower distribution verification 140 7.4.6 Reservoir flow horsepower variation sensitivity 141 7.4.7 Reservoir flow horsepower lognormal probability plot 143 7.4.8 Reservoir flow horsepower Cpk optimization using a lognormal distribution 144 7.5 Summary 149 Exercises 150 8 Modeling system cost and multiple outputs 153 8.1 Optimizing for total system cost 153 8.2 Multiple outputs 158 8.2.1 Optimization 159 8.2.2 Computing nonconformance 159 8.3 Large-scale systems 164 8.4 Summary 166 Exercises 167 9 Tolerance analysis 170 9.1 Introduction 170 9.2 Tolerance analysis methods 174 9.2.1 Historical tolerancing 174 9.2.2 Worst-case tolerancing 175 9.2.3 Statistical tolerancing 175 9.3 Tolerance allocation 178 9.4 Drift, shift, and sorting 179 9.5 Non-normal inputs 182 9.6 Summary 182 Exercises 182 10 Empirical model development 185 10.1 Screening 185 10.2 Response surface 193 10.2.1 Central composite designs 194 10.3 Taguchi 200 10.4 Summary 200 Exercises 201 11 Binary logistic regression 202 11.1 Introduction 202 11.2 Binary logistic regression 205 11.2.1 Types of logistic regression 205 11.2.2 Binary versus ordinary least squares regression 206 11.2.3 Binary logistic regression and the logit model 208 11.2.4 Binary logistic regression with multiple predictors 211 11.2.5 Binary logistic regression and sample size planning 211 11.2.6 Binary logistic regression fuel door example 212 11.2.7 Binary logistic regression—significant binary input 213 11.2.8 Binary logistic regression—nonsignificant binary input 214 11.2.9 Binary logistic regression—continuous input 214 11.2.10 Binary logistic regression—multiple inputs 215 11.3 Logistic regression and customer loss functions 217 11.4 Loss function with maximum (or minimum) response 220 11.5 Summary 223 Exercises 223 12 Verification and validation 225 12.1 Introduction 225 12.2 Engineering model V&V 228 12.3 Design verification methods and tools 230 12.3.1 Design verification reviews 230 12.3.2 Virtual prototypes and simulation 231 12.3.3 Physical prototypes and early production builds 232 12.3.4 Confirmation testing comparing alternatives 232 12.3.5 Confirmation tests comparing the design to acceptance criteria 233 12.4 Process validation procedure 233 12.5 Summary 238 References 239 Bibliography 242 Answers to selected exercises 246 Index 251