Quality Function Deployment (QFD)

     QFD is a mechanism that is used to deploy customer requirements into every stage of product/service development.

     It provides a structure for ensuring satisfaction of customers from the products a services provided.

     Developed in Japan by Akao, and also by Macabe and Fukahara.

     First application: Kobe shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. in 1972

Potential Benefits:

	decreases engineering changes
	reduces product development cycle time
	reduces start-up costs
	reduces warranty claims
	improves communication
	helps a company focus time and efforts on key areas which can provide a competitive edge
	helps identify specific competitive advantages easily

     QFD is a mechanism for concurrent engineering.

QFD Organization

     QFD should be supported by the entire organization.

     QFD is a teamwork involving representatives of design engineering, process engineering, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, marketing, and sales. Whenever necessary, purchasing, distribution, accounting, human resources, suppliers and customers can also be represented in the team.

Application of QFD

     QFD can be used for any type of product or service.

     QFD is a way of translating customer requirements into company's internal technical requirements from component design through final assembly. This translation is performed by a series of matrices. A basic QFD matrix is the "house of quality".

     QFD does not have a straightforward way of implementation. Different approaches include:

Four-phase QFD

Matrix of matrices

Comprehensive QFD Blitz QFD

• For a brief summary of QFD from Yoji Akao himself, please read the paper at this link.

A QFD Success Story: MD Robotics, the Canadian manufacturer of the Space Shuttle Cargo Boom, was ashed by Universal Studios Florida to build a real Triceratops for their new Jurassic Park. They created the "most realistic dinosaur" ever made using QFD. For details see "Jurassic QFD".

Suggested further reading:

Kolarik, Chapter 11

King, B.,Better Designs in Half the Time: Implementing Quality Function Deployment in America

Koksal, G. and Smith, W.A., Jr., November 1995, "A Multi-Stage Application of Quality Function Deployment in Textiles Dyeing and Finishing", Transactions on Operational Research, 7, 63-79.

Akao, Y. Quality Function Deployment; Integrating Customer Requirements Into Product Design

Links:

You can download a limited-use version of QFD/Capture software from here.