Performance optimization: a phased approach

Abstract

In recent years, the introduction of experiment design techniques in industry for performance improvement of products and processes has to certain extent been hampered by controversies surrounding various schools of thought such as those of Taguchi and Box. This paper presents an industry-tested approach to introducing experiment design to an organization's management and technical staff in a manner that is devoid of academic formalisms and intricate conceptual arguments. It is hoped that the experiences related here would be useful to advocates of industrial applications of experiment design, particularly in sectors where statistical knowledge is still lacking among the operations personnel.