Quality Engineering Using Robust Design (NOT KNOWN IF PUBLISHED BECAUSE AUTHOR HAS LEFT AT&T)

The objective of engineering design, a major part of research and development (R&D), is to produce drawings, specifications, and other relevant information needed to manufacture products that meet customer requirements. Knowledge of scientific phenomena and past engineering experience with similar product designs and manufacturing processes form the basis of the engineering design activity. However, a number of new decisions related to the particular product must be made regarding product architecture, parameters of the product design, the process architecture, and parameters of the manufacturing process. A large amount of engineering effort is consumed in conducting experiments (either with hardware or by simulation) to generate the information needed to guide these decisions. Efficiency in generating such information is the key to meeting market windows, keeping development and manufacturing costs low, and having high-quality products. Robust design is an engineering methodology for improving productivity during research and development so that high-quality products can be produced quickly and at low cost.