Fuzzy-based Taguchi method for multi-response optimization of product form design in Kansei engineering: a case study on car form design

An integrated fuzzy-based Taguchi method (TM) for multi-response optimization of product form design is presented in this paper. The fuzzy-based TM is applied to determine the optimum combination of design parameters for product form design which will fulfill consumers' aesthetic and emotional needs. Since conventional TM is incapable of handling multi-response optimization problems, a fuzzy logic system is integrated with the TM to overcome this problem. A case study of a car form design is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the fuzzy-based TM and confirmation test is carried out to verify the method. It is found that the integrated design optimization method is capable of solving multi-response optimization problems in Kansei engineering (KE) and is able to determine the optimum combination of design parameters of a car form which are representative of consumers' perception. The optimum designs generated from the integrated design optimization method are compared with competitor designs. It is found that the integrated design optimization method gives the best overall performance.