Data - Select Optimal Design
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The worksheet must contain a design generated by Create Factorial Design (General full factorial design), Define Custom Factorial Design (General full factorial design), Create Response Surface Design, Define Custom Response Surface Design, Create Mixture Design, or Define Custom Mixture Design.

The data required depends on the task.

Select optimal design

The design columns in the worksheet comprise the candidate set of design points. For descriptions of a DOE worksheet, see Storing the design (factorial, response surface, or mixture).

Augment/improve design

The design columns in the worksheet comprise the candidate set of design points. For descriptions of a DOE worksheet, see Storing the design (factorial, response surface, or mixture).

In addition to the design columns, you may also have a column that indicates how many times a design point is to be included in the initial design, and whether a point must be kept in (protected) or may be omitted from the final design. See below for more information.

Design indicator column

There are two ways that you can define the initial design. You can use all of the rows of the design columns in the worksheet or you can create an indicator column to specify certain rows to include in the initial design. In addition, you can use this column to "protect" design points during the optimization process. If you protect a point, Minitab will not drop this design point from the final design. The indicator column can contain any positive or negative integers.

Minitab interprets the indicators as follows:

·    The magnitude of the indicator determines the number of replicates of the corresponding design point in the initial design

·    The sign of the indicator determines whether or not the design point will be protected during the optimization process

-    A positive sign indicates that the design point may be excluded from the final design

-    A negative sign indicates that the design point may not be excluded from the final design

Evaluate design

The design columns in the worksheet comprise the candidate set of design points. For descriptions of a DOE worksheet, see Storing the design (factorial, response surface, or mixture).

In addition to the design columns, you may also have a column that indicates how many times a design point is to be included in the evaluation. This column must contain only positive integers. See below for more information.

Design evaluation column

There are two ways that you can define the design you want to evaluate. You can use all of the rows of the design columns in the worksheet or you can create an indicator column to specify certain rows to include in the design. The magnitude of the indicator determines the number of replicates of the corresponding design point.