Using 'Design of experiments' to overcome limitation of 'One-Variable-At-A-Time' approach to experimentation; the case of a rubber glove manufacturing facility in Malaysia

A modern alternative to the use of a traditional approach for conducting experimentation of the manufacturing process is introduced. This modern alternative, whose first recorded use dates back to the 1920s, is known as 'Design of Experiments' (DOE). While DOE has the ability to discover the presence of interaction between the variables of the manufacturing process, a traditional approach, known as the 'One-Variable-At-A-Time' (OVAT) does not. The discovery of interacting variables has led to breakthrough improvements in the efficiency of the manufacturing process and in the quality of manufactured products. Thus, it is vital that engineers in the manufacturing industry utilize DOE in their experimentation of the manufacturing process in place of OVAT. An example of the use of DOE in a manufacturing facility in Malaysia is presented.