Abstract

The statistical design of experiments is an essential ingredient of successful product development and improvement, and provides an efficient and scientific approach to obtaining meaningful information. In contrast to traditional “vary one-factor-at-a-time experimentation, variables are changed together, permitting evaluation of interactions. Standard texts give details about the construction of specific test plans, such as incomplete block, full and fractional factorial, and response surface designs, and the analysis of the resulting data. This article gives a brief overview. We focus on the fundamental elements of experimental design: defining the purpose and scope of the experiment, differentiating between alternative types of experimental variables, understanding the underlying environment and constraints, and conducting stage-wise experimentation. Brief discussions dealing with the emerging topic of combinatorial chemistry, statistical analysis tools, multiple response variables, and some historical background are also provided. Two key features of the article are the description of commercial software for the design and analysis of experiments, and a detailed discussion, including recommendations, of texts on experimental design; both of these include comparative tabulations of technical features.