What is identified as Taguchi's key to success?

Taguchi's key to success is centered on the concept of building parts to target, also referred to as 'nominal', which emphasizes the importance of designing and manufacturing products that meet a designated performance level. This approach highlights the idea that variation from the target value can lead to poor quality and increased costs, particularly in terms of rework and defective products.

By focusing on the nominal target, organizations can better control variation in their processes, ensuring that the end products closely match the desired specifications. This principle not only improves product quality but also enhances customer satisfaction, as customers receive products that satisfy their expectations.

Though other options, such as reducing costs, implementing training programs, or automating processes, can contribute to overall quality and efficiency, they do not encapsulate the fundamental principle of Taguchi's methodology, which prioritizes target-driven quality as a core aspect of process improvement and product manufacturing. Taguchi's approach, commonly known as robust design, ultimately aims at minimizing variation and optimizing performance, making the focus on building parts to target pivotal for successful application of his principles.