Using Quality Function Deployment to Improve Academic Advising Processes

Abstract

Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a set of concepts and tools often used in manufacturing engineering to link consumer needs with product design, can be used to improve academic advising systems and processes. QFD promotes a structured and logical examination of students' advising needs and a rigorous examination of the relationship of these needs to the design of advising systems, processes, methods, and tools. Because its conceptual base is radically different from the disciplines underpinning advising theory, QFD can offer advising leadership useful insights and avenues for advising improvement.