ABSTRACT
The term chemometrics has traditionally been applied to chemical data. A complete definition of chemometrics must include all aspects of data collection and data analysis. Data collection aspects include the knowledge of experimental design, and instrumental and sensory measurements. Many of the same data analysis techniques are used in both the chemical and sensory disciplines, allowing the chemist to think about sensory information in familiar terms and vice versa. For successful implementation of a project, the data must be reproducible and contain the information of interest. These criteria apply to both the chemical and sensory data. A systematic approach to organizing and executing the various aspects of a complex study is absolutely necessary for successful implementation. Automation of data collection and handling is not an absolute necessity but certainly makes large studies easier to execute. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
