Efficient computer‐generated alternatives to Taguchi's crossed arrays for robust parameter design

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present computer‐generated combined arrays as efficient alternatives to Taguchi's crossed arrays to solve robust parameter problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The alternative combined array designs were developed for the cases including six to twelve variables where CMR designs are not smaller than Taguchi's designs. The efficiency to estimate the effects of interest was calculated and compared to the efficiency of the corresponding CMR designs.

Findings

For all the cases investigated at least one computer generated combined array design was found with the same size as the CMR design and with higher efficiency.

Practical implications

Robust parameter design identifies appropriate levels of controllable variables in a process for the manufacturing of a product. The designed experiments involve the controllable variables along with the uncontrollable or noise variables to design a product or process that will be robust to changes in these noise variables. Response surface methodology estimates the actual relationship between the response and the input variables with an empirical model based on the designed experiment. Once the empirical model is fitted, the surface described by the model can be used to describe the behavior of the response over the experimental region. The higher efficiency of the computer generated combined array designs proposed in this research produces lower variances for the parameter estimates and lower variance of prediction for the model. As a result, the response will be described in a more realistic form.

Originality/value

The paper shows that using a computer‐generated design to solve a robust parameter problem will result in a better approximation to the true response of the process. Consequently, optimizing the fitted model will produce settings for the parameters closer to the real optimal settings.

Citation

Hijar‐Rivera, H. and Garcia‐Castellanos, V. (2009), "Efficient computer‐generated alternatives to Taguchi's crossed arrays for robust parameter design", Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 371-382. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510910997742