A lean experimental approach for proof-of-concept investigation

This study presents a lean experimental method for investigating Proofs of Concept (PoCs) in early product development. By adapting and extending Design of Experiments (DoE) with complementary frameworks, the method enables efficient identification of minimal functional parameter sets. Based on a cube-oriented model and iterative one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) testing, the design space is systematically refined. Experimental validation on a smart shaft–hub connection demonstrates the method’s effectiveness in reducing required samples while ensuring feasibility.