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How is experimentation carried out by companies? A survey of three European regions
Author(s) -
Tanco Martin,
Viles Elisabeth,
Ilzarbe Laura,
Álvarez María Jesus
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
quality and reliability engineering international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1099-1638
pISSN - 0748-8017
DOI - 10.1002/qre.947
Subject(s) - survey research , rest (music) , operations research , six sigma , marketing , computer science , econometrics , business , statistics , engineering , mathematics , business administration , lean manufacturing , medicine , cardiology
A survey was carried out to characterize experimentation in three different European regions: the Baden‐Württemberg region, The Basque Country and the rest of Spain. Results of the survey show that even though experimentation is a frequent activity, almost 95% of companies conduct experiments; the strategies used to carry them out are primitive. The one‐factor‐at‐a‐time strategy is used by 75% of companies far more than the 23%, which apply design of experiments (DoE). Results show that this may be due to the current lack of knowledge of DoE in these regions, where only 33% are familiar with the technique. Finally, the rate of applications of DoE among Six Sigma users is 40%, twice that of non‐users, which stands at 19%. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.