The usefulness of optimal design for generating blocked and split-plot response surface experiments

This article provides an overview of the recent literature on the design of blocked and split-plot experiments with quantitative experimental variables. A detailed literature study introduces the ongoing debate between an optimal design approach to constructing blocked and split-plot designs and approaches where the equivalence of ordinary least squares and generalized least squares estimates are envisaged. Examples where the competing approaches lead to totally different designs are given, as well as examples in which the proposed designs satisfy both camps.