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Taguchi Methods is a system of cost-driven quality engineering
that emphasizes the effective application of engineering strategies
rather than advanced statistical techniques.
It includes both upstream and shop-floor quality engineering.
Upstream methods efficiently use small-scale experiments to reduce
variability and find cost-effective, robust designs for large-scale
production and the marketplace.
Shop-floor techniques provide cost-based, real-time methods for
monitoring and maintaining quality in production.
Taguchi Methods allow a company to rapidly and accurately acquire
technical information to design and produce low-cost, highly reliable
products and processes. Its most advanced applications allow engineers
to develop flexible technology for the design and production of
families of high quality products, greatly reducing research, development,
and delivery time.
In general, the farther upstream a quality method is applied, the
greater leverage it produces on the improvement, and the more it
reduces the cost and time. Most typical applications of Taguchi
Methods thus far have centered around two main areas:
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Improving an existing
product |
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Improving a process for
a specific product |
Tremendous additional benefits can be derived from improving the robustness
of generic technology (in R&D) so that it is applicable to a family
of present and future products and processes. This application, called
Robust Technology Development, is currently being practiced by only
a few leading companies worldwide. Farther downstream, Taguchi's methods
for what he terms "on-line" quality control (Manufacturing
Process Control) can achieve a more cost-effective process control.
Taguchi Methods require a new way of thinking about product development.
These methods differ from others in that the methods for dealing
with quality problems center on the design stage of product development,
and express quality and cost improvement in monetary terms.
The key to competitive leadership is the timely introduction of
high quality products at the right price. Achieving maximum efficiency
and effectiveness in the research and development process is critical
to this effort.
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