The Mahalanobis-Taguchi（MT）system offers a useful approach to pattern recognition because it provides a method of evaluating results in terms of numerical values. The Recognition Taguchi （RT） method in particular offers extremely high applicability because it is rarely limited by the number of terms encountered in the analysis: it reduces them all to just two variables, scatter and sensitivity. The principle behind the RT method, which uses these two indices to summarize multiple terms, could be considered to derive from the S/N ratio of transferability. This article begins by summarizing the concept of ‘pattern’, then describes the function of transferability and its relation to the MT system. Next it focuses on the waveforms output by high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） analyzers that express the quantities of medicinal components by means of waveforms, and employs the RT method to evaluate component inclusion from these waveforms. The digital standard S/N ratio was used to compare their recognizability with their recognizability by matrix inversion in the MT system.

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The research topic of Working Group 2 of the Product Develoment Process Study Group was the design of a technology development process that would combine creativity and efficiency. After setting DFSS （Design for Six Sigma） as a benchmark, the group sought to design a more effective technology process by combining the methods of quality engineering and quality control. Seven elements essential to technology development were defined, and quality engineering, DFSS, and quality control methods were applied to each defined element to construct a platform named‘T7’．By use of the T7 platform, the technology development process can be designed in three steps: first the necessary ones of the seven elements and their order of implementation is determined; next the optimum technique is selected for each element, or a decision is made not to use any technique; then a detailed plan is drawn up for each element. The effectiveness of the T7 platform was confirmed by applying it to past cases of successful technology development, and an effective technology development process was proposed for material and device development.

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