Box Behnken designs are part of the general design of experiments approach to product development. They are a useful tool when it comes to evaluating and assessing product performance, and may be used to inform decision-making. Typically, anyone receiving a comprehensive DFSS training curriculum will learn about them as part of the course.

Box Behnken designs are often likened to central composite designs. Both are techniques that are used to evaluate product performance statistically, and both rely on quadratic equations at their core. However, Box Behnken is frequently viewed as the preferable choice for smaller projects.

Limits of the Box Behnken Design
The reason is that when you specify the levels of your factors in the central composite paradigm, you are more or less locked in. With the Box Behnken approach, they can be rotated statistically, an option that may be useful when you have a small, finite number of outcomes you want to examine.

On the other hand, it has been suggested that you compromise predictive utility with this approach and that more traditional methods may still be preferable. The best option is to check with a consultant about which technique is better-suited to your project. With a bit of assistance, you can ensure that you use the right tools and that you maximize your use of the output they provide.