Method for evaluating moldability characteristics of a plastic resin in an injection molding process

A method for evaluating moldability characteristics of a plastic resin in an injection molding process, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a vital few process response variables from a plurality of process response variables used to characterize the injection molding process, the vital few process response variables controlling a plurality of quality characteristics used to characterize a molded product made from the plastic resin;
• developing an empirical model describing the relationship between the vital few process response variables and the plurality of quality characteristics;
• training the empirical model with experimental data taken from injection molding process runs using new grades of the plastic resin;
• and
• using the trained empirical model to evaluate moldability characteristics of new grades of the plastic resin, wherein the moldability characteristics comprise determining regions of operating an injection molding process that provides the best expected molding quality given likely shifts in the vital few process response variables.