Beyond the QFD House of Quality: Using the Downstream Matrices

Abstract

QFD is a product development and implementation tool to translate the customer′s product requirements into the design of the equipment to make that product, and then into the manufacturing plan to produce that product. QFD ensures that the “voice of the customer” is not lost as plans for changing a product or making a new one proceed from concept generation through to production start‐up. Focuses on steps beyond the house of quality: the process planning and the production planning matrices, and emphasizes the practical application of QFD to new product development. Describes the formation of the QFD team, at Kimberley Clarke Corporation, the strategies used to get around the barriers that existed, the results of the effort of the programme, and the transformation in the use of QFD from a “tool” to “the culture” by which business gets done on this programme.