Quality function deployment: more than a design tool

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate to what extent quality function deployment (QFD) can be used in quality improvement rather than design activities. Design/methodology/approach A framework was developed for implementation of QFD as a quality improvement tool. A case study approach is used to test this framework, and quality issues were analyzed using the framework in a ceramic tile manufacturing company. Findings The results showed considerable improvements in the critical quality characteristics identified and sales rates, demonstrating the potential of QFD to be used in assessing and prioritizing areas of improvement, and converting them into measurable process or product requirements. Research limitations/implications One case study was completed. More studies would be beneficial to support current findings. Practical implications This framework provides structured approach and guidelines for practitioners in adapting QFD for quality improvements in existing products or processes. Originality/value This study proposes a new framework to use QFD in quality improvement activities, expanding its application areas. Moreover, the results of the literature study performed provide a valuable collection of practical QFD implementation examples.

A review on quality from the perspective of industrial product design assessment

“…If product improvement is desired after the assessment, design can be approached in reverse, starting from establishing the parameters that require improvement and addressing quality again in the redesign process, as it can be reconsidered also the relation between the user requirements and the attributes of the product in question. Centered especially on the needs of the customer, quality function deployment represents a tool that, although its applicability is greater for development, it can also be used to improve design [34]. Sure enough, there are also a multitude of other tools and techniques that can be used with success to consider and improve design, choosing a certain technique depending on the desired approach and its applicability to the given case [35].…”

The Application of Quality Function Deployment in Car Seat Industry

“…QFD can be utilized more than a design tool. There are several steps for implementing the QFD method (Erdil & Arani, 2019). First, it is to capture the basic needs of the customer (what).…”

Digital Design as a Key Approach to Shortening MEMS Development Cycle

“…The right part of figure 7 shows the correlation between the parameters of the new product (dashed line) and existing products (solid lines), which allows us to evaluate the uniqueness of the new product. A comprehensive overview of QFD is presented in [9], and more than 50 applications of this tool are structured in [10].…”