Applied Engineering Analysis

Chapter 12Statistics for Engineering Analysis

Chapter Learning Objectives

On completing this chapter readers will have learned about the following topics in the application of statistics in engineering analysis and the introduction of statistical process control in mass production of products:

• The use of statistics in engineering practice.
• Common terminology in statistical analysis.
• Standard deviation and its physical significance.
• The normal distribution of statistical data and its physical significance.
• The normal distribution function, a mathematical model for statistical analysis.
• The Weibull distribution function for probabilistic engineering design.
• The concept of statistical process control.
• The application of statistical process control using control charts for quality assurance in mass production environments.

12.1 Introduction

Statistics is the science of decision making in a world full of uncertainties.

The world in which we live is indeed full of uncertainties. The following are just a few examples of sources of such uncertainty:

• A person's daily routine, career, and health conditions.
• The life expectancies of citizens of different countries of the world.
• Fluctuations of stock markets.
• Weather forecast for regions within countries and the whole world.
• National and global politics.
• Epidemics and natural disasters around the world.

The broad application of statistical methods has made this branch of science a stand-alone major discipline of research and ...