ADTEP: An agent-based decision-supporting system for Taguchi experiment planning

In this paper, we present an agent-based decision-supporting system for Tag uchi experiment planning. Among the four major parts of Taguchi experiment, the planning phase includes the most important decision-making issues such as determination of experiment objectives, quality characteristics, and co ntrol factors. The planning phase, however, has not been paid proper attent ion by experiment designers. We have developed ADTEP (Agent-based Decision- supporting system for Taguchi Experiment Planning) to facilitate the planni ng tasks of experiment designer. ADTEP is composed of two agent-based mecha nisms. The first employs an Internet agent that collects the domain knowled ge from knowledge providers who may be distributed in remote places. Anothe r agent then visualizes the collected knowledge and reports it to the exper iment designer. Engineers who would normally have difficulties in collabora ting because of limitations on their time or because they are in different places can easily work together in the same experiment team and brainstorm to make good decisions. The second agent-based mechanism offers context-sen sitive advice generated by another intelligent agent during the experiment planning process. It prevents the experiment designer from making mistakes, which will increase the feasibility of the experiment and minimize the unn ecessary expense of time and resources.