ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is about the planning, implementation and analysis of experiments designed to both improve existing manufacturing processes and to create newer and better processes and products. It focuses on the engineering and physical sciences so that a number of detailed case studies are presented to help develop the ideas behind the planning and analysis of experiments. The book describes how to construct some efficient experiments for linear and non-linear processes respectively when the number of factors to be studied is quite small. It discusses efficient experimental designs for linear processes and non-linear processes. The book illustrates how the results from linear experiments can be used to put the mean quality characteristic of a manufactured product on target.
