The Psychology of Quality and More

A Toolbook for Quality Improvement and Problem Solving (contents)

Design of Experiments (DOE)

The Quality Toolbook > Design of Experiments (DOE)

When to use it | How to understand it | Example | How to do it | Practical variations

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'Design of Experiments' is use to understand the effects of different factors in a given situation.

• When to use it: Situations when it is useful.
• How to understand it : Details of how it works.
• Examples : Some examples of usage.
• How to do it : Step-by-step instructions on using it.
• Practical variations : Variants and variation.

Notes

Experimentation by varying one factor at a time began with Francis Bacon, in his experimentum crucis. Modern statistical experiments started with R. A. Fisher's use in agricultural research during the 1920s. Since then there have been many new methods devised, and Genichi Taguchi is one of the most well-known recent contributors in this area.

Design of Experiments is a large and sometimes complex area, and this chapter has only described some basic approaches. Further details are more mathematical in nature and are thus beyond the scope of this book.