I'm a Formulator

Are you new to mixture design of experiments (DOE) and not sure where to begin? Stat-Ease offers training, articles, books, software, online tutorials, newsletters, FAQs and DOE Resources, consulting services, and technical support to get you started. Whether you want to solve a specific quality problem, create the perfect product, improve your process, find a cheaper but equally good solution, or validate your process and procedures, Stat-Ease can help.

Contact us with questions, suggestions, or comments. Call 612.378.9449 or e-mail us.

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What is Mixture Design and What's In It for You? A Heads-Up from Stat-Ease Consultant Mark Anderson

“Early in my career as a chemical engineer working in process development, I discovered that many of the chemists in our research and development center—especially those most brilliant in their field—failed to appreciate the power of planned experimentation. Furthermore, they disliked the mathematical aspects of statistical analysis. To top off their design-of-experiment (DOE) phobia, these otherwise very capable chemists also dismissed predictive models based only on empirical data. Ironically, in the hands of subject matter experts like these elite chemists, the statistical methods of mixture design and analysis provide the means for rapidly converging on optimal compositions—the “sweet spot,” as I like to call it.

This experience has inspired me to begin work on detailing design and analysis of mixture experiments in a new book that will fill in a major gap remaining after publication of DOE Simplified and RSM Simplified. This new "how-to" book, co-authored by Patrick Whitcomb—the same as the others, is based on the Stat-Ease workshop “Mixture Design for Optimal Formulation” developed primarily by him. Readers of our third book will learn how to handle many ingredients simultaneously—not just one at a time, as dictated for time immemorial by “the scientific method.” As they will see in example after example, one needn’t hold all else constant while changing only one thing. Instead, why not take advantage of the modern-day parallel processing schemes of mixture designs that provide multicomponent testing?

After some months of work, I’ve established the WIIFM, that is, the “what’s in it for me” that will encourage formulators to work through the more intense aspects of mixture design, response modeling, statistical analysis and numerical optimization. It’s taken me three chapters to do this—it’s a tough nut to crack! Pat and I are offering this material to you as "A Primer on Mixture Design: What’s In It for Formulators?". Feel free to download it for your education on this powerful tool in the DOE kit. All I ask is that if you like what you see and become convinced that this primer will be valuable for your colleagues, please send them the link.

Now I must get back to work on the rest of the story.”

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Training

The quickest and easiest way to learn design of experiments is to attend a 2-day workshop. The class most suited to formulators is "Mixture Design for Optimal Formulations." This computer-intensive workshop covers the practical aspects of DOE. You will learn all about simple, but powerful two-level factorial designs.

Maybe you have never studied statistics or have forgotten what you learned in college? If you aren't sure you are ready for a DOE workshop, take the online PreDOE course first (a $95 value you get for free! It takes 3-6 hours to complete. You can work at your own pace). You can assess your abilities by first taking the free self-assessment questionnaire—which is available as a pre-test within the PreDOE course—at www.statease.net.

Stat-Ease offers a whole series workshops for beginning through advanced experimenters. For a schedule of upcoming classes and prices, click here. We offer both public and private training. To register for a public workshop online, go to our Workshop Registration page. For training questions e-mail Elicia, the Workshop Coordinator, or call her at 612.746.2038.

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Articles

Stat-Ease offers a wealth of articles on mixture DOE. If you would like to learn more about this subject, we recommend you begin with the articles below.

1. “Mixture DOE Uncovers Formulations Quicker”—This article offers a simple case study that illustrates how to put rubber or plastics formulations to the test by using powerful statistical methods for mixture design and analysis.

2. “Mixture Design Enhances the Nectar from an Exotic Amazonian Fruit”—Learn how Portuguese food scientists formulated a juice that hit the spot on six sensory measures.

3. “Find the Optimal Formulation for Mixtures”—A primer for chemical engineers to discover “sweet spots” where multiple product specifications can be met in a most desirable way.

4. “Computer-Aided Design of Experiments for Formulations”—This case study on rheology modifiers illustrates how mixture design uncovered a sweet spot where all specifications were satisfied for a specific coatings application.

5. “Mixing it up with Computer-Aided Design”—See how statistical tools for mixture design helped a kitchen chemist reformulate pound cake to hit the sweet spot of household tasters.

Click here to go the Articles page and see all available DOE articles and case studies. Also take a look at the Reprints page to see if there are any case studies you would like to have mailed to you.

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Books

Visit the Stat-Ease bookstore for recommended books on DOE. To get you off to a good start we suggest:

1. "DOE Simplified: Practical Tools for Effective Experimentation, 2nd Edition," by Anderson & Whitcomb—This updated introductory text covers all of the basic essentials and is filled with interesting anecdotes and sidebars that make it fun to read. It comes with 180-day version of Design-Ease 7.1 software so that you can work through the included practice problems.

2. "RSM Simplified: Optimizing Processes Using Response Surface Methods for Design of Experiments," by Anderson & Whitcomb—This book is the next step in your DOE education. Its simple and fun approach is for those who desire knowledge on response surface methods, but dislike the academic nature of other books on the topic. It comes with a 180-day version of Design-Expert 7.0 software so that you can work through the included practice problems.

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Software

Stat-Ease publishes Design-Ease® and Design-Expert® software for design of experiments. Design-Ease software makes factorial designs easy to set-up and analyze. Design-Expert software does everything Design-Ease does, but also handles mixture/process designs and response surface optimization. Both packages are powerful, but their intuitive user-friendly interface makes them easy enough for any experimenter to use.

Try either package free for 45 days. Look here for more information. To order:

Phone 612.378.9449
Fax 612.746.2069
E-mail info@statease.com
Order online

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Online Interactive Tour & Tutorials

If you have the software but need help learning how to use it, check out the Design-Expert® 7.1 Online Tour. You will also find it helpful to work through the software tutorials.

1. Design-Expert 7.1 Online Tour—Learn the basics of Design-Expert software by going through a two-level factorial design (the features explained also apply to Design-Ease® software).

2. Design-Expert Tutorials—Become familiar with the software's features and capabilities and work through the problems provided to deepen your understanding.

3. Design-Ease Tutorials—Become familiar with the software's features and capabilities and work through the problems provided to deepen your understanding.

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Newsletters, FAQs and DOE Resources

Search our web site for answers to your specific questions. You will find a wealth of information in Mark Anderson's bi-monthly e-mail newsletter, the DOE FAQ Alert. Sign up to receive the latest FAQ's, alerts to timely articles, free software updates, and interesting tidbits.

Check out our printed newsletter, the Stat-Teaser. In it you will find fun experiments, DOE articles, software and workshop news, and much more. To sign up for the printed edition, e-mail info@statease.com with your full name and address. Be sure and note that you are signing up for the Stat-Teaser. (North America only—all others should sign up for the "DOE FAQ Alert" to be notified when the latest Stat-Teaser is available for download.)

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Consulting Services

Consultants from left to right are: Top Row--Wayne Adams, Pat Whitcomb, Mark Anderson, Bottom Row--Brooks Henderson, Shari Kraber

Stat-Ease offers comprehensive consulting services. Most problems are solved for less than $2500. If you don't have the time or resources to learn DOE yourself, contact us for quick and cost-effective help solving your problem.

Phone 612.378.9449
E-mail stathelp@statease.com

Click here for more information.

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Technical Support

Having problems with software installation, activation, or program usage? Stat-Ease offers free technical support to all of its software users. Contact us by phone or e-mail:

Phone 612.378.9449
E-mail support@statease.com