Quality Function Deployment: A Tool or a Philosophy

In the late sixties, the concepts of total quality control (TQC) were developed in the United States and introduced abroad. TQC extended the scope of quality to cover the full life cycle of a product through the phases of product planning, design, manufacturing, sales, and service. During the seventies, the Japanese developed the concepts of quality function deployment (QFD) and began using them for launching new products. The QFD methodology began gaining popularity in the U.S.A. during the past three years. This presentation describes this systemic method for assuring that new product design and manufacturing yield a quality product at a minimum cost while responding to customer requirements.