QFD Assessment System for CTQ Delivery Effectiveness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methods do not provide a quantifiable assessment of the design process after product or service design is completed, making it difficult for providers to determine which Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) attributes were delivered as intended and requiring further attention.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for quantifiably assessing the delivery effectiveness of QFD planning by associating and scoring QFD requirements, determining implementation scores based on user-inputted grades, and providing traceability through multiple detail levels to identify areas needing further attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If QFD planning is performed with detailed CTQ attributes and design requirements, then the product or service quality can be improved by ensuring customer needs are met, but the time required for initial development and planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing QFD planning and CTQ identification during the initial development phase. The system establishes the complete QFD structure, including all CTQ attributes, design requirements, and their relationships, before the actual product development begins. This ensures that quality requirements are defined in advance, preventing time-consuming redesigns later while maintaining detailed quality control throughout the development process.
2Productivity
If current QFD approach is used without quantifiable assessment, then the planning process can be completed, but the ability to determine which CTQs were delivered as intended is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by introducing a quantifiable assessment mechanism that evaluates the delivery effectiveness of CTQ attributes after the design process is completed. The system compares the original CTQ definitions with the actual implementation results, providing feedback information about which CTQs were delivered as intended and which require additional attention. This feedback loop enables continuous improvement by identifying gaps between planned and actual delivery.
3Measurement precision
If detailed traceability through multiple QFD levels is implemented, then the ability to identify specific CTQs needing attention is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the QFD system into multiple hierarchical levels, including customer requirements, CTQ attributes, design requirements, and detailed specifications. Each level is independently manageable and can be assessed separately. The system maintains traceability between levels through structured relationships, allowing precise identification of which specific CTQs need attention without overwhelming complexity. The segmentation enables modular assessment and targeted improvement actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for a quantifiable assessment of the delivery effectiveness of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) planning designs. In this regard, present embodiments provide quantifiable metrics that help a key stakeholder, such as a product or service provider, determine the level of success for each design requirement or Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) attribute defined in the QFD design process. Thus, based on presently described embodiments, the stakeholder can assess how well the deployment of their product or service met the original defined CTQs and/or design requirements and which CTQs and which design requirements related to those CTQs should garner further attention to ensure that the CTQ meets its objective, which in turn allows for the opportunity for the highest possible customer satisfaction with the new or re-designed product, process or service.