This research presents a new method to generate near-orthogonal balanced mixed-level fractional designs. The proposed method showed that it is possible to create near-orthogonal balanced fractions of economic size. The method is based in the analysis of the behavior of the genetic algorithm used to generate the efficient arrays (EAs) developed by Guo; a pattern was detected, and this led to the generation of an algorithm capable of constructing fractions in a simple way. These fractions were called near-orthogonal balanced arrays (NOBAs). To analyze the properties of the NOBAs and the capabilities of the proposed method, a series of performance indicators were defined. The NOBAs were compared with the EAs developed by Guo; results are provided.