1. A method for optimizing a manufacturing line the manufacturing line having a plurality of non-numeric attributes, comprising the steps of: (a) operating the manufacturing line over a plurality of manufacturing runs to produce a product, wherein each of said manufacturing runs is affected by a plurality of non-numeric attributes; (b) recording a measure signal for each of the plurality of manufacturing runs, wherein each said measure signal indicates an output measure of the manufacturing line for its associated manufacturing run; (c) recording attribute ID signals associated with each measured manufacturing run, wherein said attribute ID signals identify the non-numeric attributes that contributed to each manufacturing run; (d) normalizing said recorded measure signals for each of said plurality of manufacturing runs; (e) deconvoluting said normalized recorded measure signals and said attribute ID signals to generate a quantitative numeric measure signal for the non-numeric attributes, using a convergent iterative process; and (f) adjusting the non-numeric attributes based on said quantitative numeric measure signal to optimize the manufacturing line, wherein production of said product is optimized as a result of said adjusting.