Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series
Volume 1, Issue 1 , Pages 7-8, August 2008

Reduce optimisation time and effort: Taguchi experimental design methods

  • K.N. Ballantyne

      Affiliations

    • Biology, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod 3085, Australia
    • Genetics Department, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Biology Division, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, 31 Forensic Drive, Macleod 3085, Victoria, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9450 3519; fax: +61 3 9450 3601.
  • ,
  • R.A. van Oorschot

      Affiliations

    • Biology, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod 3085, Australia
  • ,
  • R.J. Mitchell

      Affiliations

    • Genetics Department, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia

Received 14 August 2007; accepted 7 October 2007.

Abstract 

Development and validation of new methods and technologies frequently require long periods of time and high costs to determine the optimal system. A commonly used approach to optimisation is the factorial method, where each variable is tested at every level of the other variables. An alternative approach is to modify the experimental design using a multifactorial approach. The Taguchi design method utilises orthogonal arrays, which distribute the variables in a balanced manner, thus greatly reducing the number of experiments required. We applied the Taguchi experimental design method to PCR optimisation, and significantly reduced the number of reactions required to create highly successful reactions. We found the Taguchi design method a valuable tool for the optimisation of multifactor experiments.

Keywords: Experimental design, Optimisation, Taguchi

 

PII: S1875-1768(08)00078-4

doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.10.050

Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series
Volume 1, Issue 1 , Pages 7-8, August 2008