Configuring the Design Matrix

You use the Matrix tab to generate the design matrix for the technique and factors you selected.

  1. Double-click the Taguchi Robust Design component icon .

    The Taguchi Robust Design Component Editor appears.

  2. From the Taguchi Robust Design Component Editor, click the Control, Noise, or Signal tab.

  3. Click the Matrix subtab.

    Because there can be only one signal factor, the signal factor matrix has only one column, with each level of the signal factor listed exactly once.

    If an array was selected as a control or noise factor, only a single item is displayed in the design matrix for the entire array. At run time, the individual elements of the array are assigned to columns of the design matrix, as necessary.

  4. (Optimal Latin Hypercube technique only). Click Generate to create your design matrix manually.

    Note: If you do not manually generate the design matrix in the component editor, Isight automatically generates the matrix as part of the execution. This process may take a significant amount of time.

    1. You can view the information displayed on the Status dialog box to see how the matrix is generating, when it completes, and any errors.
    2. Click Close once the matrix has been created. If you click Close before the design matrix optimization completes, the resulting design matrix is the last one generated during the optimization process.

  5. (Orthogonal Arrays technique only) Click Options to display any options available for generating the design matrix.

    When using the Orthogonal Arrays technique, the factors are assigned automatically to columns in a way that minimizes confounding with interaction effects. Preference is given to factors in the order they were defined.

  6. Click in the Show list to select how you want the design matrix displayed.

    Option Description
    Values The actual values to be set at execution.
    Levels The level number as generated by the technique algorithm.

  7. Perform any of the following actions to manipulate the design matrix:

    Option Description
    Deactivate a single design point To deactivate a design point so that it is not executed (the icon appears), click any row number. You can also click the button at the top of the design matrix, or right-click the design matrix and select Skip selected design point(s).
    Deactivate all design points To deactivate all design points in the design matrix, highlight all the design points and click the button. You can also right-click the design matrix and select Skip all design points.

    Note: Deactivating design points is useful when it is known that a specific set of values in the design matrix represents a design that cannot be evaluated for whatever reason.
    Activate a design point To activate a design point that has been set to be skipped, click the icon that represents the design point. The row number reappears. You can also click the button at the top of the design matrix, or right-click the design point and select Activate selected design point(s).
    Activate all design points To activate all the design points in the design matrix, highlight all the design points and click the button. You can also right-click the design matrix and select Activate all design points.
    Copy the design matrix To copy the design matrix to the clipboard so that it can be pasted elsewhere (e.g., in a text file), click the Copy button above the design matrix or right-click the design matrix and select Copy design matrix.
    Save the design matrix To save the design matrix to a file, click the Save button above the design matrix or right-click the design matrix and select Save.

  8. If you are working with a control matrix, you can manipulate it by performing any of the following actions:

    Option Description
    Add user-defined points to the matrix To add any design point to a design matrix, enter a value for each factor into the empty last row in the table. Typically, the selected DOE technique generates a matrix based on the options and factors selected, but you can add any design points to a matrix. The DOE component will fail to execute if any user-defined point does not have a value for all factors (the cells with missing values for user-defined points are highlighted in pink).
    Paste user-defined points from the clipboard To add a set of points that are already defined in a file, you can copy and paste them directly into the design matrix as new user-defined points by right-clicking and selecting Paste new user-defined points. Pasting new user-defined points will always append the points to the matrix (regardless of whatever cell was selected). If factor names are found in the first row of the copied data, Isight uses those names to identify the appropriate columns of data; otherwise, values are pasted in the same order as they exist in the pasted content. You must confirm that the values pasted are appropriate for the factors in those columns.
    Remove user-defined points from the matrix To remove any user-defined points from a matrix, clear the values from all cells in that row or right-click and select Remove selected user-defined point(s) or Remove all user-defined points.

  9. Click OK to save your changes and to close the Taguchi Robust Design Component Editor.