Design of experiments for non-manufacturing processes: benefits, challenges and some examples

Abstract

Design of Experiments (DoE) is a powerful technique for process optimization that has been widely deployed in almost all types of manufacturing processes and is used extensively in product and process design and development.There have not been as many efforts to apply powerful quality improvement techniques such as DoE to improve non-manufacturing processes. Factor levels often involve changing the way people work and so have to be handled carefully. It is even more important to get everyone working as a team. This paper explores the benefits and challenges in the application of DoE in nonmanufacturing contexts. The viewpoints regarding the benefits and challenges of DoE in the non-manufacturing arena are gathered from a number of leading academics and practitioners in the field. The paper also makes an attempt to demystify the fact that DoE is not just applicable to manufacturing industries; rather it is equally applicable to non-manufacturing processes within manufacturing companies. The last part of the paper illustrates some case examples showing the power of the technique in non-manufacturing environments.

Application of the experimental design for the analysis of nonattendance to scheduled medical appointments in the Colombian Health System

“…The study about missing specialized appointments of high resolution and economic repercussion by Aragon sanitary consortium reported that out of the total appointments, 10% did not attend, the failure to attend being higher for women's first consultation in the morning without any difference regarding the weekday, being one of the most jeopardized services: rehabilitation (17.3%), gynecology (13%), traumatology (11%) and ophthalmology (10.3%) [16].…”

Energy-Efficiency Assessment and Improvement—Experiments and Analysis Methods

“…It can be adjusted to the characteristics of the phenomena and variables under study, as well as to the type of information that is intended to be obtained from an experimental study. DoE is a flexible and cost-effective tool for developing and optimizing a process's efficiency and product's quality, as well as services, where the benefits and challenges of DoE usage are also identified [35][36][37].…”