The QFD Matrix of Matrices

from the Perspective of Competitive Advantage

by
Edwin B. Dean

The matrix of matrices (King, 1989) was the first glimpse by the West of comprehensive quality function deployment (CQFD). It represents a number of charts, and other forms, which transform the desires of the customer into the language of business, engineering, and production. Part of that table is shown below. The statements in the matrix represent matrices of the form row-vs-column.

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	customer demands vs quality characteristics	customer demands vs functions	new technology vs mechanisms 1st level of detail	customer demands vs product failure mode
2	functions vs quality characteristics		functions vs mechanisms 1st level of detail	functions vs product failure mode
3	quality characteristics vs quality characteristics		quality characteristics vs mechanisms 1st level of detail	quality characteristics vs product failure mode
4	parts 2nd level detail vs quality characteristics		parts 2nd level detail vs mechanisms 1st level of detail	parts 2nd level detail vs product failure mode

By evaluating functions, mechanisms, parts, and product failure modes in terms of importance to the customer, emphasis can be placed on those things which are most important to the customer. This focuses engineering and business efforts and reduces waste within the organization. In turn, this leads to higher organizational quality and higher product quality. The higher organizational quality leads to reduced cost. Thus, comprehensive quality function deployment is a means of increasing value to the customer and, hence, competitive advantage.

Comprehensive quality function deployment is an important means of designing for value.

References

Akao, Y., ed. (1990). Quality Function Deployment, Productivity Press, Cambridge MA.
Gustafsson, N. (1995). Comprehensive Quality Function Deployment - A Structured Approach for Design of Quality, Linköping Studies in Science and Technology Thesis No. 487, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
King, B. (1989). Better Designs in Half the Time: Implementing Quality Function Deployment in America, GOAL/QPC, Methuen MA.
Ofuji, T. (1995). Personal notes from the Second North American Quality Function Deployment Master Class, QFD Institute, Ann Arbor MI, 24-27 September 1995.

Bibliographies

Quality Function Deployment
Comprehensive Quality Function Deployment

Quality Function Deployment | Comprehensive Quality Function Deployment | Seven Product Development Tools | Use

Originated on 970308 | Improved on 970308
Author Ed Dean |