Title: A distance function approach to multi-response optimisation in determining optimal factor setting

Authors: Subrata Mondal; Prasun Das

Addresses: Quality Systems and Reliability Department, Tata Motors Ltd., Pune 018, India. ' SQC & OR Division, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B.T. Road, Kolkata 700 108, India

Abstract: In multi-response optimisation problems the objective is to determine the optimal settings of factors (or process variables) which will simultaneously optimise several responses. But most of the methods those are already developed determine the optimal alternative, not the optimal factor setting. Also, they are quite dependent on the response type. This paper addresses a new method to find the best alternative using the concept of heterogeneous distance function. Moreover, this method provides a way to determine the optimal factor setting for the true alternative without neglecting the potential interactions among the factors. The new method is robust, easy to understand and requires less information. Two real-life problems have been solved using the proposed method. Performance of the proposed method is compared with existing methods and with experimental data.

Keywords: multiple criteria; multicriteria analysis; multiresponse optimisation; distance function; optimal setting; response surface methodology; RSM; process variables.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2012.049636

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2012 Vol.10 No.4, pp.498 - 513

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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