Design of Experiments

What is Experimental Design?

Test or series of tests in which purposeful changes are made to the input variables of a
process so that we may observe and identify corresponding changes in the output response.
Controllable input factors
x1 x2 . . . . . . . . . xn

Input Process Output

z1 z2 . . . . . . . . . .zm
Uncontrollable input factors
Objectives of experiment.
1. Determining which variables are most influential on y.
2. Determining where to set the influential xs so that y is near nominal requirement.
3. Determining where to set the influential xs so that variability in y is small.
4. Determining where to set the influential xs so that the effects of uncontrollable variables are
minimized.
Experimental design can be used for either Process Development or Troubleshooting.

Is DOE better than SPC?

Yes. SPC is a passive statistical method where we watch the process and wait for the
information whereas DOE is an active method where series of tests are performed on the
process inputs, observing corresponding changes in the outputs and providing us the best
possible input combinations thus resulting in process improvement.