Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Quality Function Deployment first originated in Japan. There was a need among the manufacturers to produce products that would meet customers’ needs. There was strong competition from other international firms in the manufacturing industry, especially the American firms. As such, Fifield (2007, p. 98) explains that the manufacturing industry, through research, realized that this model was the best way through which they could manage the market competition.
Quality function deployment has a close relation to Total Quality Management. It is meant to ensure customer satisfaction by ensuring quality from the production stage. Quality Function Deployment has four phases. The first phase is product planning. This is essentially taking into consideration the customers’ requirements. These Japanese firms had realized that it would be important to define the products according to the specifications of the customer (Ahmed & Rafiq 2002, p. 46). It would require some form of research in order to determine the requirements of the customers. Using the gathered information from the customers, the production unit can then plan on the production process.
The second phase is the product design. In this phase, the production unit would use information from the customers to design a product that best meets the specifications of the customers. In manufacturing plants, Slack, Chambers, and Johnson (2010, p. 54) state that it would involve a laboratory process where different products would be designed and tested for their suitability to the expected quality.
The third phase is the process planning which is basically the manufacturing phase. Having tested and confirmed the desired quality in the second stage, the production unit would embark on the product that best met the expectation of customers’ specifications.
The fourth and last stage is the process control, also known as the delivery phase. The manufactured products would be accumulated in the warehouses of the firm and then delivered to the customers in the best way possible.
Through the above four phases, this model aims to achieve maximum customer satisfaction.
Relevance of Quality Function Deployment to the Modern Commerce
Although this model was originally meant to help the Japanese manufacturers in their production process, it has become a relevant tool in modern commerce. Fawzy (2000) explains that Quality Function Deployment lays a lot of emphasis on customers’ satisfaction. This model insists on customer involvement at every stage of production. This would make these selected target markets identify with the product. The product would not only meet the expected customer value but will also have a bonding experience with the customers. Customers would identify with the product as they would feel they were part of its inception (Charantimath 2003, p. 123). As such, this model would be very important for any firm in the market that wishes to manage market competition
Quality Function Deployment and the House of Quality
The House of Quality is the main tool for Quality Function Deployment. It is a series of six matrices with each matrix having its specific function. As Fawzy (1999, p. 69) states, while Quality Function Deployment spells out what should be done to ensure superior customer satisfaction, the House of Quality explains how the specified function can best be accomplished. The six matrices (Customer Requirements, Planning Matrix, Technical Requirements, Inter-Relationships, Roof, and Targets) specify how the four phases of Quality Function Deployment can best be achieved.
List of References
Ahmed, K & Rafiq, M 2002, Internal Marketing tools and concepts for customer-focused management, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Charantimath, P 2003, Total Quality Management, Pearson Education, Delhi.
Fawzy, S 1999, Manufacturing Management with Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, University of Sydney, Sydney.
Fawzy, S 2000, Management of Business Processes, University of Sydney, Sydney.
Fifield, P 2007, Marketing Strategy: The Difference between Marketing and Markets, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Slack, N, Chambers, S & Johnson, R 2010, Operations Management, Prentice-Hall, London.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.