Abstract

This webinar introduces binary logistic regression as a fundamental statistical and machine learning method for modeling outcomes with two possible states, focusing on how it estimates the probability of an event using the logistic (sigmoid) function rather than a linear relationship. It covers the key assumptions of logistic regression while explaining, intuitively, why these assumptions are necessary for valid and reliable inference. Participants will learn how to interpret model performance and goodness of fit using key indicator measures with emphasis on distinguishing statistical significance from practical usefulness. The webinar also highlights real-world applications, including the Challenger disaster in aeronautics, where logistic regression models failure probability under varying temperatures, and health sciences examples, where it is used to predict disease outcomes and assess risk factors, providing attendees with both conceptual understanding and practical insight for applying logistic regression in diverse fields. Logistic regression is a tool usually covered in Master Black Belt curricula for Six Sigma.

About Ernesto
Ernesto Luis Garcia Contreras is an engineer who adds value to any organization through process improvement, management science, operations research, data science/machine learning/ business intelligence, mathematical modeling, and statistical analysis.

He has supported large and small organizations in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. He lectures on production and manufacturing systems, quality engineering, operations management, machine learning, and statistical analysis at different universities worldwide. He is a faculty member at Florida State University, in charge of capstone design for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. He is also the Managing Director of Appaloosa Engineering, a consulting company specializing in applied optimization, data science, and process improvement.

Ernesto graduated from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He holds a Master's in Business Administration and a Master’s in Managerial Economics from EGADE-ITESM. As a Fulbright scholar, he received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.