WSU Engineering
Class Syllabus
Autumn Semester 2000

Course: STAT 360, Engineering Statistics
Text: Statistical Methods for Engineers/G.G. Vining
Other materials may be placed on library reserve or provided separately in class.
Instructor: Dr. Kevin T. Kilty
Office: Adjunct Faculty Office
Office hours: Typically after class until noon.
Time: Fridays 7:30-10:00 am
Location: Library Rm. 240

Course Objectives:

  1. Applying probability to sampling, simulation, and the design of engineering experiments.
  2. Illustrating how engineers and scientists develop models of processes and make use of them.
  3. Making students familiar with the broader use of statistics in econometrics, biological and social sciences, and public policy.
  4. Explaining the essence of inference and inversion.

Course Outcomes: My aim is to have students become proficient in the following topics by the conclusion of this course.

  1. Producing and interpreting common graphical displays of information such as histograms, contour plots, stem and leaf diagrams, and control charts.
  2. Calculating confidence intervals for population attributes.
  3. How to acquire samples and avoid common pit-falls.
  4. Drawing inferences from data by classical and, perhaps, bayesian means.
  5. Establishing relationships among sample data through regression. Traversing response surfaces in several ways to optimize processes.

Tentative schedule: If we limit ourselves to two in-class exams, we will have approximately 14 useful class meetings. Thus, we must cover material approximately according to the schedule in Table 1.

Table 1.

Date

Topic

Materials/Tasks

Sep. 1

Introduction: Statistics in engineering, science and the broader economy. Motivation for topics covered in this class.

Chp. 1 and 2 Vining, additional material in class.

Sep. 8

Elements of probability: distributions and their description

Vining, Chps. 2, 3

Sep 15

More about probability/Bayesian view

Vining, Chp. 3/aditional material

Sep 22

Practicum. Using statistical features of Excel.

Half class in each of two sessions, tentatively?

Sep 29

Distributions and applications

Vining, Chp. 3.

Oct 6

Yet more distributions; yet more applications.

We will tidy up Chp. 3 in Vining, and look at some extracurricular material.

Oct 13

Review and MIDTERM

Can you imagine the bad planning it took to schedule an exam for Friday the 13th? Attendance required.

Oct 20

Inference and inversion

Vining, Chp. 4.

Oct 27

Inference and inversion

Vining, Chp. 4.

Nov 3

Process Control

Vining, Chp. 5.

Nov 10

Regression and models

Vining, Chp. 6.

Nov 17

Models and experiment design

Extracurricular material. We will just examine how experiments, probability and statistics contribute to simulation.

Dec 1

Response surfaces/Process Optimization.

Specific sections in Vining. Extracurricular material.

Dec 8

Simulation

Special topic of simulation. How everything we have learned contributes to simulation./Project presentations.

Dec 15

Final Class Session

Project presentations.

Week of Dec 18

FINAL EXAM

Whew!

Attendance policy: I do not demand strict attendance. However, I present supplemental material (especially on bayesian methods) in class. We will work many specific examples in class as well. Non-attendance is no defense for being unfamiliar with this material.

Grading criteria: We can alter this scheme according to the class's desires. However, I suggest a mid-term and final exam each weighted 25%, homework weighted 25%, and a small project weighted 25%. An "A" grade is 90+ or better, a "B" is 75+ to 90, a "C" is 60+ to 75, a "D" is 40+ to 60, and an "F" is 40 or below. I strongly propose using the project as learning exercize.

ADA policy: The policy of WSU, Vancouver is to make all reasonable accommodation for students who have documented disabilities. For those students who require accommodation please make appropriate arrangements with our Student Services Office during the first two weeks of class.

Student responsibilities: You have certain responsibilities and rights as an adult and a student of WSU Vancouver. Please refer to the student manual for a description of what these entail.

Further inquiries may be directed to Kevin T. Kilty