Applying statistical design of experiments as a change agent in industry

Quality management gurus and statisticians alike have been admonishing that industry should make more use of statistical thinking and statistical tools. In this paper, the experience in the use of statistical tools, specifically Design of Experiments, as a change agent in an industrial setting is described. The usefulness of an overall framework, in this case Design for Six Sigma, is pointed out, as it could bring out conscious thought changes such as the recognition of variation and the need for robustness in design and manufacturing. The "5S", or Start-Secure- Setup-Scrutinize-Share framework can make statistical tools part of an organization's quality improvement roadmap.