A hypothesis-based method for building specific design knowledge for robust design

Robust Design (RD) is crucial in product development to ensure that products maintain reliable performance under varying conditions. Design knowledge is fundamental to RD. However, current methods lack a systematic approach to support design engineers in building design knowledge for RD. This paper addresses this gap by introducing a hypothesis-based method for systematically building design knowledge for RD. RD hypotheses are specifically developed for this purpose and are tested through a five-step method. The application of this method is demonstrated in a case study involving a hand-operated coining machine. The results show that the proposed method supports building specific design knowledge through two RD hypotheses. By employing this method, design engineers are systematically supported in making design decisions, leading to more robust product concepts.