Simultaneous Optimization of Several Response Variables

TLDR

Product development must choose conditions that optimize multiple response variables to achieve desirable properties, a challenge addressed by desirability function approaches such as Harrington’s. The paper adapts the desirability function method to transform multiple response variables into a single function optimized by univariate techniques, demonstrated on rubber compound development for tire treads. The authors modify Harrington’s approach, converting multiple response variables into a single function that can be optimized using univariate techniques.

Abstract

A problem facing the product development community is the selection of a set of conditions which will result in a product with a desirable combination of properties. This essentially is a problem involving the simultaneous optimization of several response variables (the desirable combination of properties) which depend upon a number of independent variables or sets of conditions. Harrington, among others, has addressed this problem and has presented a desirability function approach. This paper will modify his approach and illustrate how several response variables can be transformed into a desirability function, which can be optimized by univariate techniques. Its usage will be illustrated in the development of a rubber compound for tire treads.