TABLE OF CONTENTS Modeling systematic variation results in a relational model. Most scientific and engineering models are relational in nature. They attempt to explain observed variation in the response as a result of variation transmitted to it by some affecting factors. The constructed model is expected to convey the relationship between these two sources of variation, hence the term "relational".
In this chapter, current mainstream scientific and engineering relational models are introduced, which have been developed over the years in various unrelated scientific and engineering disciplines, like chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, electric engineering or reliability engineering (hardware and software). The motivation for this survey is twofold.
First, the survey demonstrates that there are indeed certain regularities that can be observed as common traits in a large spectrum of current relational models. These common properties are alluded to in Chapter 3 as "empirical observations". Later, they provide the required basis for the development of the general RMM model in Part II of the book.
Secondly, recognizing (and perhaps appreciating) the similarity between the features of the new RMM model and those of existing models may help persuade potential users that the RMM approach is an effective platform for empirical modeling. For prospective users, who may recognize in the...
