Robust Design: An Experiment-based Approach to Design for Reliability

Robust design uses the parameter design approach of Genichi Taguchi to optimize designs of products and processes with the objective of building in insensitivity to noise. Noise is any kind of uncontrolled variation in the environment of operation of the product or process that could affect performance. If we recognize how variation in the environment (e.g., energy source, raw materials, heat and humidity, dirt and dust) and internal deterioration degrade reliability, then robust design offers a new and exciting way to “build reliability in” rather than depend on maintenance to assure reliability. One objective of this paper is to collect and review previously identified methods to design for reliability, in order to put robust design in context. A second objective of this paper is to provide engineers with a background in robust design, describe how it is adapted to design for reliability, and then give several examples of successful applications from the literature.