Response surface methodology moves from screening to optimization. It usually climbs toward a better region along the path of steepest ascent, then fits a quadratic model using a central composite or Box-Behnken design and reads the optimum from contour plots. A central composite design adds axial (star) points to a factorial plus center points; for two factors the axial distance for a rotatable design is 1.414 coded units.
Screening's done, temp and time are what matter. Next step is RSM, a central composite with five center points.
Also heard as
- response surface methodology
- response surface
Related terms
Center point
Run with every numeric factor set halfway between its low and high levels, used to detect curvature and estimate error.
Sweet spot
Region of factor settings where every response meets its target at once, found by overlaying response contour plots.
Factorial design
Experiment that runs every combination of the chosen factor levels, so each main effect and interaction can be estimated.
DOE
Design of experiments: planning a set of runs that vary several factors at once so their effects can be separated.