Design of Experiments (DOE)
DEFINITION
Traditional experiments focus on one or two factors at a couple of levels and try to hold everything else constant (which is impossible to do in a complex process). When Design of Experiments is properly constructed, it can focus on a wide range of key input factors or variables and will determine the optimum levels of each of the factors.
SITUATION
If it is unclear which variables contribute the most to this sensitivity, then it is time to run a Design of Experiments to make this determination.
OBJECTIVE
In most designs, there are factors that can be controlled and factors that cannot. We will use a design of experiments approach to determine which factors are which and then to help find the optimal balance between each of the factors. This will yield the most robust design possible given the factors present.
VALUE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Design of Experiments is a valuable tool whenever we are dealing with several design variables and we are unsure of which variable or combination of variables will affect the design the most.
RELIABILITY INTEGRATION
An example of Reliability Integration during Design of Experiments is as follows:
Design of Experiments can be used when identifying how to combine different stresses for HALT or HASS
It may be worth running a Design of Experiments with different stresses to find which stresses combined together are best at finding defects. There are papers published on which work best together, but the results may differ for some types of products, in which case running a small Design of Experiments can help.
METHODOLOGY
The following case studies and options provide example approaches. We shall tailor our approach to meet your specific situation.
- Set objective
- Select process variables
- Select an experimental design
- Execute the design
- Check that the data are consistent with the experimental assumptions
- Analyze and interpret the results
- Use and present the results
- Perform follow-on Designs-of-Experiments if necessary
CASE STUDIES/OPTIONS
The following case studies and options provide example approaches. We shall tailor our approach to meet your specific situation
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DOE Training/Workshop
A Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment company was looking to run a Design of Experiments but realized they lacked the fundamental education. We came in and taught a tailored 3-day Design-of-Experiments course. The first two days were aimed at basic education and the third day was a workshop in which we took a specific example of a Design-of-Experiments the customer needed, and we developed it together as a group.
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DOE Planning and Implementation (Complete DOE Outsourcing to Ops A La Carte)
A Medical Device company had an issue in which a device aged too quickly due to improper wear. We recommended a Design-of-Experiments, and they outsourced the entire project to us. We met with the design engineers, determined all of the process variables, and then designed an experiment. The customer then had the samples built based on the Design-of-Experiments parameters. To accelerate the aging, we used temperature cycling, performed pre-test measurements, measurements during the temperature cycling, and post-test measurements. Then we collected the data, analyzed it, and made recommendations based on the results.
