Quality function deployment (QFD) technology designed for contract manufacturing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an overall review of quality function deployment (QFD) in the past nearly 30 years; to clarify widespread misperceptions about QFD; to adapt its use to the product development model of contract manufacturing; and to simplify the complexity of QFD and effectively integrate its contents.Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts “action research” (AR) as its research methodology. The action research was conducted using a “research/consultant strategy” in a series of projects of collaboration with contract manufacturing companies.Findings – The paper corrects widespread misperceptions about QFD, and adapts QFD to a specific product development model.Research limitations/implications – The paper uses a participatory and interpretive approach to develop and explain the new QFD model, but the authors are restricted by the highly confidential nature of the R&D information, and not authorized to publish actual case study data. The research value lies in the d...