The Taguchi Robust Design Method : Current Status and Future Directions

During the past several decades, the Taguchi robust design method has been widely used in various fields successfully. On the other hand, some researchers and practitioners have criticized the method with respect to the way of utilizing orthogonal arrays, the signal-to-noise ratio as a performance measure, data analysis methods, etc., and proposed alternative approaches to robust design. This paper introduces the Taguchi method first, evaluates the validity of the criticisms, and discusses advantages and disadvantages of each alternative. Finally, research issues to be addressed for effective robust design are presented.