The Taguchi method of design of experiments is a statistical tool based on the systematic approach of conducting minimal number of experiments using orthogonal arrays. Traditionally, this method has been used to predict the significant contribution of each design variables and the near optimum level combination of the design variables by conducting a real time experiment.

In this project, instead of the real experiment, the finite element analysis is used as an analytical tool for conducting experiments. However the layout of the experimental design is still based on the Taguchi method of design of experiments. By integrating the Taguchi method with the finite element method, a new design tool is evolved to study the effect of the input design variables on the performance of the design. This concept has been implemented in a common-lisp environment using blackboard approach of problem solving.

The major advantage of this technique is that it is not problem specific and can be extended to any design which can be represented by means of a finite element model. A typical case study is conducted to test the approach which confirms the effectiveness of the integration of the Taguchi method and the finite element method.