Applying Design for Six Sigma to Software and Hardware Systems

14. Predictive Engineering: Optimization and Critical Parameter Flow-Up

The focus of both this chapter and the prior chapter is on predictive engineering, a major aspect of Design for Six Sigma; in fact, some experts have used these terms interchangeably. With predictive engineering, transfer functions are used to predict performance—in terms of the distribution of the critical parameters, the measurable technical requirements that are critical for the success of the product. This is referred to as critical parameter flow-up. If the predicted distributions do not provide sufficiently high confidence that the customers will be satisfied with the situation as-is, then the development team needs to optimize the performance—using the transfer functions ...