Using design of experiments to improve product and process integrity

The authors summarize the needs and benefits of DoE (design of experiments) in avionics markets, provide a brief discussion of DoE methods, and present a formalism for using DoE in reliability determination and assurance. DoE is being used to produce dramatic improvements in the following areas of avionics manufacturing: process optimization/improvement; product design/improvement; new process development; capital equipment acquisition; quick response to RFPs; and improved communication. It is concluded that DoE is an efficient way to systematically obtain knowledge, and is therefore a valuable tool in an industry in which short cycle times, low costs, and high reliability must be demonstrated