An integrated decision framework for robust parameter design

Robust parameter design is a popular methodology for quality improvement. One of the drawbacks of the current practice of parameter design is failure to incorporate customer perception captured in the conceptual design phase through considerable expenditure of time and effort. This research develops an enhanced paradigm for parameter design based on the integration of multiattribute weight assessment, quality function deployment, empirical modeling methods, and multicriteria optimization in order to accomplish effective trade-off decisions based on customer preferences associated with a parameter design problem of multiple quality characteristics. The four modeling elements are integrated into a useful framework and the connections between them in the context of parameter design are explained in this paper. A numerical example is presented and sensitivity analysis is shown in the paper.