Topics in the body text of this DOE FAQ Alert are headlined below (the "Expert" ones, if any, delve into statistical details):

P.S. Quote for the month: An homage to aerospace pioneer and moon-walker John Young, who passed away on January 5.

(Page down to the end of this e-zine to enjoy the actual quote.)

1: Software Alert: Version 11 of Design-Expert software released and updated!

We are very happy to announce the release of Design-Expert version 11 (DX11), which offers an amazing array of interface enhancements, for example, multigraph views—plus a number of refinements to its powerful statistical tools. It arrives with rave reviews from the expert evaluators for the:

• Modernized user interface (UI): “Nice—clean and fresh!”
• Ability to display results as you wish: “I like the options to split and arrange the output screens.”
• Improved statistical analysis: “I find the factorial center-point modeling for curvature effects greatly improved and very clear.”
• Migration made easy for upgrading: “I like the new UI. Definite wow factor, but it still feels the same.”

Click here and scroll down to the “Features” tab for what puts the heaven in DX11. Then, assuming you like what you see, scroll back up to the link for the free 30-day trial or buy it directly, taking advantage of upgrade pricing if eligible. You will do well by gaining the leading edge on DOE capability!

P.S. If you became an early adopter of our new Design-Expert release before it achieved its current revision 11.0.4, then download the update from within the program. View the Read Me file for details on the changes—mainly maintenance items. If you want to receive notice when an update becomes available, go to Edit on the main menu of your program, select Preferences and, within the default General tab, turn on (if not already on by default) the “Check for updates on program start” option. (This alert feature is not available in network versions.)

2: FAQ: How many center points do you recommend for a 16-run two-level factorial?

Original question from a Senior Product Development Engineer:“How many center points do you recommend for a 16-run characterization design?”

Answer: I recommend 4 center points (CPs) for the 16-run or any other two-level design—provided its meant to characterize, rather than screen factors (in this latter case, do not add CPs). Fewer CPs provide too few degrees of freedom for estimating curvature, more waste time. The consensus of DOE experts comes in at a range of 3 to 5 CPs. That provides a bit of ‘wiggle-room’. It seems sensible to me that for much larger designs, sized so for power requirements, the number of CPs should be increased, for example, to 5 for a 64-run experiment. Perhaps some of our readers may weigh in with their opinions, or, better yet, quantitative research that provides a more analytical answer.

P.S. By the way, v11 of Design-Expert streamlines the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for factorials with center points, making it far more intuitive for non-statisticians, and flexible for DOE experts via the new “Remove/Add Curvature” button.

3: Webinar alert: The Magnificent Seven in DX11

Via three world-wide webinars in February (see times below), Stat-Ease Consultant Shari Kraber will lay out her favorite features in newly-released version 11 of Design-Expert software. Enjoy an enlightening demonstration of DX11's overhauled interface and the fabulous new capabilities that come with it.
Choose from one of three presentations:

1. Tuesday, February 20 at 6:30 - 7:30 am (0630 – 0730) CST* (for Europe, Africa, India, the Middle East and western Asia, others welcome!)
2. Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 – 8:00 pm (1900 – 2000) CST* (for Australia, NZ and eastern Asia, others welcome!)
3. Wednesday, February 21 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (1100 – 1200) CST* (for the Americas and Caribbean, others welcome!)

Register now for the date and time that works best for you via this GotoWebinar link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If this is your first Stat-Ease webinar, please review these suggestions on how to be prepared. If questions remain, direct them to our Client Specialist, Rachel Pollack, via [email protected].

4: Info alert: DOE improves throughput in manufacturing of key intermediate

Researchers at Codexis, a leading protein engineering company based in the San Francisco Bay high-tech corridor, put Design-Expert to good use for a DOE aimed at improving conversion of a key intermediate in a pharmaceutical reaction. See the details in this publication by Express Pharma.

5: Events alert: Enjoy Paris in the spring while sharpening up on DOE at our User Meeting and, perhaps, sharing your expertise as a speaker

(Second Notice) Call for Speakers for the 7th European DOE User Meeting & Workshops in Paris, France. Are you interested in speaking at the 7th European DOE User Meeting & Workshops hosted by Stat-Ease, Inc. and our partner Ritme in Paris, France on June 6-8, 2018? You are invited to submit an abstract (up to 250 words) on your application of Design-Expert® software. The talks will be 25 minutes, including questions. The deadline is February 25, 2018. Learn more and submit your abstract here.

The DOE User Meeting will be held at Le CNAM (or the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts) in the heart of Paris, close to the Louvre and Notre Dame. The conference will include an optional pre-conference workshop on June 6 on Practical DOE “Tricks of the Trade” by Pat Whitcomb and Mark Anderson, followed by the 2-day user meeting on June 7-8 with talks by DOE Experts and industry practitioners. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Seine as a special evening conference event on the 7th. You won’t want to miss this fun and educational conference in beautiful Paris! Visit the registration page for more information.

Click here for these and other upcoming appearances by Stat-Ease professionals.

P.S. Do you need a speaker on DOE for a learning session within your company or technical society at regional, national, or even international levels? If so, contact me. It may not cost you anything if Stat-Ease has a consultant close by, or if a web conference will be suitable. However, for presentations involving travel, we appreciate reimbursement for travel expenses. In any case, it never hurts to ask Stat-Ease for a speaker on this topic.

6: Workshop alert: See when and where to learn about DOE—Sign up now before classes fill

You can do no better for quickly advancing your DOE skills than attending a Stat-Ease workshop. In these computer-intensive classes, our expert instructors provide you with a lively and extremely informative series of lectures interspersed by valuable hands-on exercises with one-on-one coaching. Enroll at least 6 weeks prior to the date so your place can be assured—plus get a 10% “early-bird” discount.

• Experiment Design Made Easy (EDME)
• Feb 21–22, Orlando, FL
• Apr 24–25, Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN)
• Modern DOE for Process Optimization (MDOE)
• February 21-23, Orlando, FL
• Apr 24–26, Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN)
• Mixture and Combined Designs for Optimal Formulations (MIXC)
  • Mar 14–16, Cleveland, OH
  • Jun 26–28, Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN)
• Designed Experiments for Pharma (DEPH)
  • Apr 9–10, Philadelphia, PA

See this web page for complete schedule and site information on all Stat-Ease workshops open to the public. To enroll, scroll down to the workshop of your choice and click on it, or call our Client Specialist Rachel Pollack, at 612-746-2030. If spots remain available, bring along several colleagues and take advantage of quantity discounts in tuition. Or, consider bringing in an expert from Stat-Ease to teach a private class at your site.*

*Once you achieve a critical mass of about 6 students, it becomes very economical to sponsor a private workshop, which is most convenient and effective for your staff. For a quote, e-mail [email protected].

I hope you learned something from this issue. Address your general questions and comments to me at: [email protected].

Please do not send me requests to subscribe or unsubscribe—follow the instructions at the end of this message.

Sincerely,

Mark

Mark J. Anderson, PE, CQE
Principal, Stat-Ease, Inc.
2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 480
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413 USA

P.S. Quote for the month: in homage to aerospace pioneer and moon-walker John Young, who passed away on January 5:

"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions.”

—Legendary Bell X1 test pilot Alvin “Tex” Johnston. In later years as a tester for Boeing, Johnston did a barrel roll over Seattle’s Lake Washington with a 367-80 (aka Dash 80)—a prototype for the 707. When the company president asked him what he thought he was doing, Johnston famously responded: “I was selling airplanes”.

Trademarks: Stat-Ease, Design-Ease, Design-Expert and Statistics Made Easy are registered trademarks of Stat-Ease, Inc.

Acknowledgements to contributors:
—Students of Stat-Ease training and users of Stat-Ease software
—Stat-Ease consultants Pat Whitcomb, Martin Bezener, and Shari Kraber
—Stat-Ease programmers Hank Anderson, Neal Vaughn, Joe Carriere and Jon Kraber
—Heidi Hansel Wolfe, Stat-Ease sales and marketing director, and all the remaining staff that provide such supreme support!

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