Design of Experiments

October 25, 2002

Dr. Richard Chung

Department of Chemical and Materials
Engineering
San Jose State University
 Design of Experiments
A branch of applied statistics dealing
with planning, conducting, analyzing, and
interpreting controlled tests to evaluate
the factors that control the value of a
parameter or group of parameters.
- Selected from Donna C. S. Summers, Quality,
2nd Ed. (2000), Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey, page 625
 Objectives of DOE
z To explore relationships between
process and/or product input and its
output
z To identify key variables (or factors)
and their levels contributing to output
variability (or affecting a quality
characteristic)
 Definitions
z Variable – the characteristic being
measured
z Factor – the variation of variable
z Level – the variation of a factor

Example: Three brands of bottle water are to be

compared. The “clearness” reading is one of the
measured characteristics. Cleanness is a variable. The
measurement of cleanness can be affected by
“temperature” – a factor. The brand of the bottle water
is the level.
 Some Types of DOE

z Classical Design
z Completely Randomized Design
z Latin Square Design
z Factorial Design
 Classical Design
I II III

A B C

A B C

A B C
Completely Randomized Design

I II III

C B C

A C B

A A C
 Latin Square Design

I II III

1 A C B

2 B A C

3 C B A
 Factorial Design
z Full Factorial
z Fractional Factorial
z Interactions
 DOE General Steps
z Step 1 Clearly define the problem (identify
which input variables can significantly
affect specific output variables
z Step2 Select input factors to be investigated
and their associated levels (focus on vital
few)
z Step 3 Choose experimental design
(measure effects of changing each factor
and separate it from effects of changing
other factors)
 Robust Design
zA design with smooth, predictable output
despite extensive input variation.

Some uncontrolled causes:

Internal: wear, deterioration, defect,
crystallization …
External: environmental changes (stress,
temperature, humidity, …)