Roy, Ranjit K. :

Ranjit K. Roy, PhD, is an internationally known consultant and trainer who has achieved recognition for his down-to-earth teaching style of Taguchi experimental design. Since 1977, he has been Adjunct Professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and is the founder of Nutek, Inc.

Learning takes place when ideas and concepts are exchanged between an instructor and students or readers. The author's involvement in promoting and training use of Taguchi's experimental design technique dates back to the early 1980s, when it was introduced in the United States. The early attendees of seminars on the subject were there more through professional curiosity than application interest. The attendees seemed satisfied that they got what they expected from the seminars, but over the years, as demands for quality-related skills grew, so did the demand for application knowledge from industrial and academic professionals at all levels. Instructional seminars with attendees of all sorts of backgrounds, from those with advanced university degrees to others with no university instruction, always poses a challenge to the instructor. As a trainer wishing to satisfy the most attendees, the author has always felt a continuing need to make the instructional method easier. Having conducted several hundred classes and workshops, published one textbook (A Primer on the Taguchi Method, 1990), and developed one software package (Qualitek-4) on the subject during the past few years, it appears that the task of making the learning process simpler is never-ending. Design of Experiments Using the Taguchi Approach: 16 Steps to Product and Process Improvement is an attempt to offer another learning approach that allows the experimenter to understand the technique on his or her own with detailed examples, exercises, and preprogrammed solutions.

Although the design of experiments using the Taguchi approach is statistical in nature, no formal background in statistical science is necessary to master the subject. Over a dozen reference texts on the technique have been published by experimenters in the industry. A number of organizations also routinely offer courses and workshops on the subject. But there are not many hands-on seminars with application workshops to be found anywhere, nor is there any textbook that offers readers the option to learn in their own home or workplace. This book is written using the language most common on the manufacturing floor so that it will be easier for technicians, working engineers, and professional managers in the manufacturing industries to read and understand.

For developing application expertise, a sound knowledge of the theory and a working understanding of the application principles and computational aids used in processing the experimental results are necessary ingredients. To learn the theory, one would generally need to read one or more of the books available on the subject. Application tips are more easily understood from an experienced instructor than by reading books on application examples. When experiments are carried out and there is a need for analysis of results, it is a good idea to obtain one of the available packages of analysis software. The software assures the accuracy of analysis and saves time. This book provides resources in all three elements of the learning process. It contains applicable theories in brief and step-by-step application of the concepts. It also contains a fully functional software CD-ROM that readers can use to review example experiments. By using the software, the readers learn each application step by experiencing hands-on how to enter data for experiments, analyze results, and draw conclusions from the analysis.

The author sincerely hopes that practicing engineers in the industry and academia will find this book helpful in learning how to apply the Taguchi experimental design technique and promote applications of the technique within their own work environment. The author would greatly appreciate receiving your questions, comments, and suggestions.

RANJIT K. ROY

"An excellent book for any practicing engineers who are interested in using Taguchi's approach in optimizing and characterizing a process. Dr. Roy's step-by-step method outlined in the book does not require the readers to have any prior statistical knowledge to understand Taguchi's approach to Design of Experiments. The book also walks you through the computer program on the CD-ROM that comes with it."

-- Marcus Khoo, Quality Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Submitted by Publisher, October, 2001

Fulfill the practical potential of DOE-with a powerful, 16-step approach for applying the Taguchi method

Over the past decade, Design of Experiments (DOE) has undergone great advances through the work of the Japanese management guru Genechi Taguchi. Yet, until now, books on the Taguchi method have been steeped in theory and complicated statistical analysis. Now this trailblazing work translates the Taguchi method into an easy-to-implement 16-step system.

Based on Ranjit Roy's successful Taguchi training course, this extensively illustrated book/CD-ROM package gives readers the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and apply the Taguchi method to engineering projects-from theory and applications to hands-on analysis of the data. It is suitable for managers and technicians without a college-level engineering or statistical background, and its self-study pace-with exercises included in each chapter-helps readers start using Taguchi DOE tools on the job quickly. Special features include: *An accompanying CD-ROM of Qualitek-4 software, which performs calculations and features all example experiments described in the book *Problem-solving exercises relevant to actual engineering situations, with solutions included at the end of the text *Coverage of two-, three-, and four-level factors, analysis of variance, robust designs, combination designs, and more

Engineers and technical personnel working in process and product design-as well as other professionals interested in the Taguchi method-will find this book/CD-ROM a tremendously important and useful asset for making the most of DOE in their work.

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Symbols and Abbreviations.
Introduction.
Design of Experiments and the Taguchi Approach.
Definition and Measurement of Quality.
Common Experiments and Methods of Analysis.
Experimental Design Using Orthogonal Arrays.
Experimental Design with Two-Level Factors Only.
Experimental Design With Three- and Four-Level Factors.
Analysis of Variance.
Experimental Design for Studying Factors Interaction.
Experimental Design with Mixed-Level Factors.
Combination Designs.
Strategies for Robust Design.
Analysis Using Signal-to-Noise Ratios.
Results Comprising Multiple Criteria of Evaluations.
Quantification of Variation Reduction and Performance Improvement.
Effective Experiment Preparation and Planning.
Case Studies.
Appendix.
What's on the Disk.
Index.
List of Symbols.