Experimental Design and Process Optimization

This book discusses the methodology of experimental design and response surface analysis. Augmented by real-world case studies, the text demonstrates the advantages of using the experimental design method versus investigating a single variable at a time. The authors describe the benefits of the sequential strategy of factorial designs and the evolution of its use, explore the screening design technique developed by Plackett and Burman as an alternative to preliminary selection, and review statistical science essentials to aid readers in understanding and applying the concepts presented.

Professor Maria Isabel Rodrigues started her career in 1971 at 17 years of age, working as a food technician in the Food Engineering Faculty (FEA) of UNICAMP. In 1981 she was admitted to the undergraduate course in Food Engineering in the same faculty, and exercised the two functions of student and technician simultaneously. She started her master’s degree in 1986, developing the experimental part in Toulouse, France, and defending her thesis in 1989. She worked at Copersucar as a researcher in 1987, but returned to FEA, as a lecturer, in 1989. She defended her doctor’s thesis in 1993, having carried out part of her experimental work in Reading, England, and in 2001 she became a full professor. She directed 14 master's students, 10 doctoral students, and took part as a member more than 200 master's and PhD examination boards. She has published 62 papers in international journals, 6 chapters of books and received 4 honorable mentions (Japan and Brazil). In 2009 she retired and opened the firm Protimiza, with which she is involved in intense activity as DOE adviser to multinational companies. She continues as a collaborating lecturer in FEA/UNICAMP, giving courses on this specialization to graduate students.

Professor Antonio Francisco Iemma is licensed to teach mathematics by the University of Ribeirao Preto. He started his teaching career as a High School teacher in 1967, working from 1967 to 1974 in the "Jesuino de Arruda" State College in Sao Carlos. He started his university level teaching career in 1972 in the area of statistics in ASSER, Sao Carlos, and also in the areas of mathematics and statistics in UNAERP in Ribeirao Preto. In 1974 he was contracted as a lecturer to teach biostatistics in the Faculty of Medicine in UNESP/Botucatu, where he remained until 1982, and during this period he completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in statistics in USP. Between 1982 and 2001 he was contracted as a lecturer at ESALQ/USP in Piracicaba, where he became a full professor. In this period, specifically between 1991 and 1993, he carried out a Post-doctorate at the Faculte Universitaire de Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux in Belgium, where he obtained the title of Master in Conferences and gave various courses. He has collaborated as a visiting lecturer in various universities in Brazil and in other countries such as Argentina, Belgium, Columbia, Cuba and France, amongst others. Between 2001 and 2003 he was the Manager of Biostatistics in the experiment optimization sector for GlaxoSmithKline Biological in Rixensart, Belgium. As from 2003 he has been involved in activities in AF STAT Assessor, Formation and Research. He is a scientific assessor in various companies and universities, and reviewer for journals in both Brazil and abroad.