Design of Experiments

Paul Murray Catalysis Consulting offers training and consultancy in all aspects of the implementation of Design of Experiments including selection of the appropriate designs, the analysis and interpretation of the experimental data including the prediction of reaction outcomes from the model.

Industrial and academic Scientists can no longer afford to experiment in a trial-and-error manner, changing one factor at a time. A far more effective method is to apply a systematic approach to experimentation that considers all factors simultaneously. This approach is called Design of Experiments (DoE) and many scientists use it as an efficient way to solve serious problems affecting their projects.

Design of Experiments provides information about the interaction of factors and the way the total system works, something not obtainable through testing one factor at a time (OFAT or OVAT) while holding other factors constant. Another advantage of DoE is that it shows how interconnected factors respond over a wide range of values, without requiring the testing of all possible values directly.

Design of Experiments can be utilised in any field where the changing of a single factor can change the outcome of the investigation.

An interesting introductory article to explain the principles of Design of Experiments and its application in chemistry is available here: Experimental design in chemistry: A tutorial.