Engineers are expected to design structures and machines that can
operate in challenging and volatile environments, while allowing for
variation in materials and noise in measurements and signals.
Statistics in Engineering, Second Edition: With Examples in MATLAB and
R covers the fundamentals of probability and statistics and explains
how to use these basic techniques to estimate and model random variation
in the context of engineering analysis and design in all types of
environments.
The first eight chapters cover probability and probability
distributions, graphical displays of data and descriptive statistics,
combinations of random variables and propagation of error, statistical
inference, bivariate distributions and correlation, linear regression on
a single predictor variable, and the measurement error model. This leads
to chapters including multiple regression; comparisons of several means
and split-plot designs together with analysis of variance; probability
models; and sampling strategies. Distinctive features include:
- All examples based on work in industry, consulting to industry, and
research for industry
- Examples and case studies include all engineering disciplines
- Emphasis on probabilistic modeling including decision trees, Markov
chains and processes, and structure functions
- Intuitive explanations are followed by succinct mathematical
justifications
- Emphasis on random number generation that is used for stochastic
simulations of engineering systems, demonstration of key concepts, and
implementation of bootstrap methods for inference
- Use of MATLAB and the open source software R, both of which have an
extensive range of statistical functions for standard analyses and
also enable programing of specific applications
- Use of multiple regression for times series models and analysis of
factorial and central composite designs
- Inclusion of topics such as Weibull analysis of failure times and
split-plot designs that are commonly used in industry but are not
usually included in introductory textbooks
- Experiments designed to show fundamental concepts that have been
tested with large classes working in small groups
- Website with additional materials that is regularly updated
Andrew Metcalfe, David Green, Andrew Smith, and Jonathan
Tuke have taught probability and statistics to students of engineering
at the University of Adelaide for many years and have substantial
industry experience. Their current research includes applications to
water resources engineering, mining, and telecommunications.
Mahayaudin Mansor worked in banking and insurance before teaching
statistics and business mathematics at the Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
Malaysia and is currently a researcher specializing in data analytics
and quantitative research in the Health Economics and Social Policy
Research Group at the Australian Centre for Precision Health, University
of South Australia. Tony Greenfield, formerly Head of Process
Computing and Statistics at the British Iron and Steel Research
Association, is a statistical consultant. He has been awarded the
Chambers Medal for outstanding services to the Royal Statistical
Society; the George Box Medal by the European Network for Business and
Industrial Statistics for Outstanding Contributions to Industrial
Statistics; and the William G. Hunter Award by the American Society for
