Comparative analysis of Taguchi´s crossed array approach vs combined array approach to robust parameter design: A study based on apparel industry

This research compares Taguchi´s crossed array approach with the combined array approach (an alternative proposed by statisticians) using an experiment designed to optimize the sewing conditions to minimize the variability of a high end women´s garment. The optimum settings given by the two approaches were similar, although the combined array approach provided more information about the process with a slightly better parameter setting. The findings imply that the benefit an apparel organization gets in conducting a statistically sophisticated analysis needs to be carefully weighed against the statistical simplicity Taguchi´s crossed array approach offers in robust parameter designs.