What is quality function deployment? 4 phases and practical examples

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a strategic methodology developed by Yoji Akao and Shigeru Mizuno in the 1960s to translate the Voice of the Customer (VOC) into specific product features, ensuring that customer needs are prioritized throughout the product development process. QFD employs a structured approach, notably through the "house of quality," which helps identify, analyze, and prioritize customer requirements, competitive analysis, and technical specifications to build customer-centric products. This framework has been adopted by global companies like Ford and Toyota and is now integrated into the ISO 16355 standard, offering guidelines for discovering product requirements from customer needs. The methodology consists of four phases—product planning, product development, process planning, and process quality control—each building on the last to optimize the development process and ensure that products align with customer expectations. QFD aids in improving cross-functional collaboration, enhancing product quality, and efficiently utilizing resources by aligning technical requirements with customer needs, ultimately resulting in higher customer satisfaction and a competitive edge.