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Nature of Applications of the Taguchi Approach and of Qualitek-4 Software
User Evaluations and Areas of Applications of the Taguchi technique

    See also Independent Reviews of Qualitek-4 Software   Review our  TESTIMONIALS

Read about who are using Qualitek-4 software, and how are they using the Taguchi design of experiment techniques?

"QT4 is the most user-friendly Taguchi DOE program I have used so far. I could apply it to my projects with minimum learning time. The support I received from Nutek on technical issues is incomparable."  - J. Chandra, Ph.D., Corporate Quality, Eaton Corporation.

"Written by an engineer for engineers, QT4 makes the design, data collection and analysis of Taguchi experiments a doable task for practicing engineers. The software designs the experiment, prints out data collection sheets, and provides an analysis with a nice summary that can be taken into meetings. Now that Dynamic Robustness studies can be conducted with this software, all but the most difficult problems can be solved without expert consultants."   - Larry R. Smith, E400 Transmission Engineering Operations, Ford Motor Company

"QT4 contains all the essentials that you will need to successfully complete your designed experiments. An invaluable tool."   - Lance G. Mattoon, Cordis Corporation

"I have performed a number of experiments, usually relying on Excel for simpler experiments with few factors / levels.  I have looked at several packages and have been disappointed by their inability to accommodate more than 3 levels, or their inability to mix 2 and 3 level factors.  This is the most promising aspect of your product."
 - Bob Bell, Plant Manager, Elring Klinger Sealng System, Livonia, Michigan,USA.

"My number one criteria for evaluation is ease of use.   It is important that the software is easy to use and self explanatory in order for it to gain acceptance. Qualitek provides this feature.  Immediately following the installation of the Demo, I began navigating through the software.  It was configured in a logical manner, making it very easy to use.  I have not found this same level of usability in any other package reviewed."  -  John Kestyn, Manufacturing Engineer  Sundyne Corporation

"I have looked at a number of software for DOE. Based on the cost and value, Qualitek-4 leads the pack."  - Philip J. Ross, Author, PJR Quality Consultants.

'"Graphic analysis capability was excellent with a fine assortment of graph options. The P-diagram can be useful planning aide for developing dynamic designs."  - Glenn S. Peace, Author, ITT Automotive.

"I have performed a number of experiments, usually relying on Excel for simpler experiments with few factors / levels.  I have looked at several packages and have been disappointed by their inability to accommodate more than 3 levels, or their inability to mix 2 and 3 level factors.  This is the most promising aspect of your product."
 - Bob Bell, Plant Manager, Elring Klinger Sealng System, Livonia, Michigan,USA.

"My number one criteria for evaluation is ease of use.   It is important that the software is easy to use and self explanatory in order for it to gain acceptance. Qualitek provides this feature.  Immediately following the installation of the Demo, I began navigating through the software.  It was configured in a logical manner, making it very easy to use.  I have not found this same level of usability in any other package reviewed."  -  John Kestyn, Manufacturing Engineer  Sundyne Corporation

"I have looked at a number of software for DOE. Based on the cost and value, Qualitek-4 leads the pack."  - Philip J. Ross, Author, PJR Quality Consultants.

'"Graphic analysis capability was excellent with a fine assortment of graph options. The P-diagram can be useful planning aide for developing dynamic designs."  - Glenn S. Peace, Author, ITT Automotive.

"We are a manufacturer of ceramic ferrite magnets. Currently we are experiencing up to a 10%  loss in our grinding process because the parts break. Over the last few months we have initiated several improvements for cost reduction and what we thought was improved quality but our yields have gone steadily down for the last 3 months. I need to be able to test the results of each of these changes independently for their effect and some how tell what their effect is cumulatively." - Richard Reddick, Gen. Manager ,  TDK Ferrites Div.   Shawnee, OK, USA.

"My application involve design and analysis of tribologic friction materials formulae. I wish to study and identify the effect of any single component from among many factors that influence friction." - Ing.Gaetano Fasano, Sta Maria Aztahuacan, Mexico D.F.

“My application is generic design of experiment for lab projects involving pilot studies with new drilling fluids.”  - Dr. Eugenia Marinou, Lab Manager, Cabot Specialty Limited, Cabot House, Altens Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3LY, UK. 

“I want to use Taguchi optimization method for my biotechnological purposes.” - Rohollah Hamidimotlagh, Msc student of microbiology, department of biology, university of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

“I would like to use Qualitek software for analysis of the data of my dissertation.”  - Muralidhar Kruthiventi, a student of MSc Information Systems at Thames Valley University, London

 “I want to test the software to do the DOE for wave soldering process” - Sawomir Florian, Process Engineer, VECTOR, Krzemowa 6,  Portugal.

 “My application is in experiments with finite element method for glass making” - Jan Stekly, FEM analyst, Bo¾eny Nìmcové 1, Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic. 

"I am an assistant professor in microbiology  working on optimization of erythromycin production. I wish to use your Qualitek-4 software to optimize the process."  - J. Hamedi, Ph.D, Dept. of Biology,Faculty of Sciecne, Univercity of Tehran, Iran

"I am a PhD student working on surface modification of polymeric fibers with plasma polymerization and I wish to use your software to optimize the process." - Afra hajizadeh, Univercity of Sherbrooke, Canada.

  

“I would like to use the Taguchi method for optimizing the parameters of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to diagnose bovine respiratory syncitial virus infections. Also, I want to introduce Qualitek-4 software to my Immunology students”. - Marcelo H. Argüelles,  Instructor of Virology and Immunology, Department of Science and Technology, National University of Quilmes, Roque Saenz Peña 180 (B1876BXD) Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"I'm currently working on optimization of an enzyme reactor bioprocess. Some of the parameters I'm looking at are temperature, pH, ionic strength, enzyme loading etc. I would like to use the Qualitek-4 software to design the experiments and determine the optimal levels of various interacting variables." - Suffian Annuar, BSc, Ph.D (Malaya), University of Malaya, Jalan Lembah Pantai 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I am a professor of quality management at International Academy of Management and Economics at Makati City Philippines and I want to introduce your software in my MBA class. This I believe will improve quality awareness for my students who are mostly occupying high  positions in our manufacturing sectors.” - "Pedrito A. Salvador" <salvador@iame.edu.ph>  

“I'm interested in DOE and particularly Taguchi methods as applied to marketing tests (largely direct response marketing).  Single factor split testing is very limited.  Exhaustive case testing is just a little too much, although it has the potential to reveal interaction effects.” - Richard Keir, Access Cursos e Consultorias, Ltda, Ladeira Dr Macedo #27, Vassouras, RJ 27700000, Brasil.

" I have used the demo version and I find it extremely useful."
- Robert Chatfield, Manufacturing Engineer, Nissan Casting Australia Pty.Ltd., 205-235 Frankston Dandenong Road, Victoria - 3175, Melbourne,  AUSTRALIA "

"I'm interested in the subjects Neural Network & Fuzzy Logic. Now I'm looking for a new method to study. Our company Yamato produces Roller Burnishing Tools. And I think that the operation parameters of roller burnishing method is very suitable to study with Taguchi DOE methods."  
- O. Can YAZICI, Position&Company: Mech. Eng. YAMATO - Roller Burnishing Tools, 422 Sok. No:20/A 35090, Camdibi/Izmir/Turkey

"I would like to use Qualitek-4 for designing research experiment for enzymatic digestion treatment for recovery of biopolymer (polyhydroxyalkanoate)"  -  K. Yosotha, Post graduate student, Institute of Postgraduate Studies University Malaya , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Address: Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“I wish to apply the Taguchi technique in sheet metal bending process.” - R.Radha krishnan, R.V.S college of Eengg Tech, Tamil Nadu. India. 

“I am undertaking a Masters Honors in Commerce by Thesis at Charles Sturt University in Australia in business to business marketing.  I believe Taguchi method may be appropriate means of analyzing data received from exploratory research.” -  Phil TImbrell, Engineering Manager,  PO Box 139   Blaxland 2774   Australia. 

“As a technical engineer, I’m searching for a way to improve tests of injection molding. I read already many comments on your books. Now, I'm very interested in trying your demo version.” - Stijn De Meyer, Technical engineer, Industrielaan 12, 9320 Erembodegem, Belgium. 

“We are currently doing research on rubber to metal bonding that has a lot of parameters. I wish to use the Taguchi technique and the DOE software to correlate the different parameters.” - RamaKrishna Nookala, University Of Cincinnati, 400 Rhodes Hall,Department Of Materials Science, University Of Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA. 

“DOE using the Taguchi approach has been suggested to me for direct-mail campaigns for soliciting consumer response. I would like to use DOE, orthogonal arrays to develop experiments to optimize results of direct-mail efforts and origination of residential mortgages.” - Brian Risler, Mortgage Development Officer, Sovereign Bank, 15 Taylor Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. 

 

  

 

“I have used the old version of Qualitek-4 when I worked with Raychem (Tyco-Electronics). Now I wish to use it for the plant to fine tune the high-tech machines.” - Luc Uytterhoeven (Belgium), Leuvensesteenweg 124 - 1910 Kampenhout -  Belgium. 

" I'm designing my microelectronic device fabrication by DOE." -  Zhang Guangyu, Ph. D student, with Data Storage Institute. DSI Building, 5 Engineering drive 1, Singapore 117608. 

“My application is in the areas of Regulation of treatment and manufacturing sites; Granting Waste Immobilization Approvals.” - E Wilson,  Hazardous Waste Regulation Officer, EPA of NSW Australia, 59 Goulburn St Sydney Australia 2000

“I would like to try your software with some experiments in my Plastics Laboratory projects.” - Forrest Wells, University Student, CSU Chico., 708 Pomona ave, Chico, CA 95928. 

“I am studying Experimental Designs and it is necessary for my course to download this demo for academic purpose.” - Brenda Zorrilla, student of Master Degree at the Universidad de las Americas Puebla. 

“I am doing a research to join SIC Steel, and I need to see the effects of different materials.” - Gabriel Santana,  Student, Texas A&M University, 1520 Holleman drive Apt. C. 
“As a masters degree candidate in ITEC at Iowa State University, I am using the book and CD for a research class and will be using the CD to support my Thesis research.” - Lonnie Ramaeker, 836 Webster Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595, USA.    “I am working as Scientist in Biochemical and Environmental Engineering. My work involves basic research on development of various novel biological methods for complex wastewater treatment and bioremediations of contaminated soils.  I am planning to apply this approach to wastewater treatment and determine the interactions of various processes parameters.” - Dr. S. Venkata Mohan,  Scientist, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering Group, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad-500 007, India.
     
“I am interested in the Qualitek-4 Windows XP software to do design of experiments for engineering research involving material properties.” - Dr. Charles Coffin, Research Engineer , Materials and Mechanics , New Business and Technology , Hilti AG, Feldkircher Strasse 100, Postfach 333 , FL-9494 Schaan , Fürstentum Liechtenstein .  

“My project work involves design and analysis of experiments on Resin Transfer Molding process to identify the effect of process parameters on the response variable and to optimize the process.” - Sujikumar V, Graduate Student, Concordia University – Montreal, 1845, de maisonneuve blvd W, Apt # 18, Montreal - Quebec -Canada - H3H1J9.

“I am planning to do experiments in my tribology field involving material combinations and different lubrications.” - Ramkumar Penchaliah, Surface Engineering & Tribology Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.

[Excerpts from publication in Quality Digest/January 1999, Page 51]

Quality Software:  Simplified Taguchi DOE

Qualitek-4                                                                                  by Tim Knight

Taguchi's design of experiments methodology is a systematic evaluation of two or more input factors at randomized and varied levels for their contribution to product or process variation. The use of these methods truly leads to process understanding and characterization. Qualitek-4 by NUTEK effectively harnesses the power of Taguchi.

The package's capabilities include the use of L-4 to L-64 arrays. Two to 63 factors may be selected, with two, three and four levels to each factor. Data-analysis options offer the choice of standard or signal-to-noise analysis with choices of bigger, smaller or nominal-is-best categories for quality characteristics. The standard analysis identifies which factors affect the average response, whereas the signal-to-noise analysis consolidates several data points into one value that reflects the amount of variation present.

Getting started on experimental design is easy:

The manual design option presents a spreadsheet-style input screen that allows advanced users the choice of which array to use and the freedom of placing factors into the columns provided. By clicking the Set Interactions button, users can indicate which column represents the interactions of specified factors.

The automatic design option allows Qualitek-4 to select the array used and assign factors to the appropriate columns. This feature is a real timesaver, especially for users less familiar with DOE. The program prompts users to enter the critical design information into a dialog box that offers a number of multiple-level factors to choose from. I tried quite a few combinations of experimental designs and found that the software could suggest an array for each.

Both options can design simple experiments using only an inner array, and experiments that formally incorporate uncontrollable or noise factors into the outer array. In both design modes, Qualitek-4 assists users by suggesting possible interaction columns at the click of a button. Once a design is established, entering experiment trial results is an easy task. Qualitek-4 uses spreadsheet-style input screens here, too.

After entering results, users can analyze the data. This is where the software's true power emerges. The package does an excellent job of presenting results in a logical fashion with very detailed graphics available for selection.

Depending upon how many trials are entered, Qualitek-4 will perform a standard

or signal-to-noise analysis. The only difference is that standard analysis utilizes averages or, in the case of a single column of data, a single measurement point, whereas the signal-to-noise analysis is based on the signal-to-noise ratio.

To view the analysis data, users first must select whether the quality characteristic is bigger, smaller or nominal-is-best. The experimental results then show up on the screen, with the option to view a bar graph that compares the average or signal-to-noise ratio for each trial. If there are multiple data entries for each trial, each bar in the graph will have a shaded portion that represents the amount of associated variation present in that trial.

The next screen shows the main effects, with a column that represents the average effects. At this screen, users can view the interaction plots. The resulting tables and graphics are well-done; they are one of the software's best features. Another nice touch: All interactions may be generated automatically and viewed as graphs.

Next, the ANOVA table offers some good features. Qualitek-4 enables users to either manually pool the ANOVA results or it does it for them. The last screen, Optimum Conditions and Performance, is the basis for the confirmation experiment. Users can perform a what-if analysis by clicking on the Estimate button. By entering different levels of factors, the software will compute the expected performance levels for that combination.

Context help screens and online help are both done well. However, some additional Taguchi theory entries would be helpful. The user manual gives a good overview of the package's capabilities. Ranjit K. Roy, the software's author, also wrote A Primer on the Taguchi Method, available through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. One criticism: For the price of the software, a copy of the text would be a nice addition to the supplied material.

Overall, I highly recommend this package. The interface, while simple, offers various experimental design options. The excellent data-analysis capabilities serve to ease the interpretation process. Roy has done an outstanding job of presenting Taguchi methods to all potential practitioners.

About the author: Tim Knight is the quality assurance manager for Chucking Machine Products, specialists in close-tolerance, ultra-precision machining