A Systematic Approach to Planning for a Designed Industrial Experiment

Design of experiments and analysis of data from designed experiments are well-established methodologies in which statisticians are formally trained. Another critical and rarely taught skill is the planning that precedes designing an experiment. This article suggests a set of tools for presenting generic technical issues and experimental features found in industrial experiments. These tools are predesign experiment guide sheets to systematize the planning process and to produce organized written documentation. They also help experimenters discuss complex trade-offs between practical limitations and statistical preferences in the experiment. A case study involving the (computer numerical control) CNC-machining of jet engine impellers is included.