Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology is a general strategy for combining designed experiments and regression analysis to explore the relationship between one or more response variables and a set of factors that are thought to affect the responses. Some of the key elements in this strategy include sequential progress, a matching of experimental designs to the complexity of needed regression models and rapid progress to the most interesting parts of the factor space. These methods are often used to seek optimal settings of the factors for reaching specific values of the response, such as a maximum or minimum value. Response surface methods are widely used in research and development and industrial applications. Keywords: response surfaces; sequential experimentation; factorial design; central composite design; Box-Behnken design