Robust Design
Robust design means that the product is designed so that small variations in production or
assembly do not adversely affect the product. For instance, Lucent developed an integrated
circuit that could be used in many products to amplify voice signals. As originally designed,
the circuit had to be manufactured very expensively to avoid variations in the strength of the
signal. But after testing and analyzing the design, Lucent engineers realized that if the resistance
of the circuit was reduced—a minor change with no associated costs—the circuit would
be far less sensitive to manufacturing variations. The result was a 40% improvement in quality.