A Design of Experiment (DoE) is a strategy for planning, conducting, analysing and interpreting the experiment so that valid conclusions can be drawn efficiently and economically. It has the ability to reduce product and process variability. Hence, this study examined if DoE is an appropriate tool to support Lean Six Sigma in selected automotive component manufacturing companies in South Africa. The automotive component manufacturing sector uses various tools aimed at reducing variability. This includes Lean Six Sigma. Consequently, companies that participated in the study have (over and above Lean Six Sigma) adopted a DoE strategy. Thus, the study was designed to establish if DoE is an appropriate tool to support Lean Six Sigma. Of the 123 participants identified, 107 completed the questionnaires. Middle managers of four automotive component manufacturing companies in the eThekwini District Municipality participated in the study. The study investigated production and the related experiences of the automotive component manufacturing companies. Descriptive and correlation were used to analyse data. Results indicated that the appropriateness of DoE to support Lean Six Sigma in various business activities (like finance, strategy and product development) has no relation to both product improvements through reformulation during product development and process optimisation using quality control tools. However, study participants provided a number of reasons for implementing DoE in the automotive component manufacturers. It is advised that the automotive component manufacturers develop a comprehensive variability reduction policy that aligns DoE tools to business performance.

中文翻译：

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支持减少精益六西格玛的可变性实验设计的适当性

实验设计（DoE）是一种用于计划，进行，分析和解释实验的策略，以便可以有效，经济地得出有效的结论。它具有减少产品和过程可变性的能力。因此，本研究检验了能源部是否是支持南非部分汽车零部件制造公司精益六西格码的合适工具。汽车零部件制造行业使用各种旨在减少可变性的工具。这包括精益六西格玛。因此，参与该研究的公司（超过精益6西格玛）采用了能源部战略。因此，该研究旨在确定DoE是否是支持精益六西格码的合适工具。在确定的123位参与者中，有107位完成了问卷。eThekwini District Municipality的四家汽车零部件制造公司的中层经理参加了这项研究。该研究调查了汽车零部件制造公司的生产和相关经验。描述性和相关性用于分析数据。结果表明，能源部在各种业务活动中（如财务，战略和产品开发）支持精益六西格玛的适当性与产品开发期间通过重新制定配方进行的产品改进以及使用质量控制工具进行的流程优化均无关。但是，研究参与者提供了在汽车零部件制造商中实施DoE的许多原因。