Design Process Error-Proofing: Project Quality Function Deployment

Abstract

This paper presents an advanced application of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) for product development projects. Design process error-proofing not only seeks to prevent catastrophic failures but also addresses product definition problems that compromise product features, time-to-market, or cost. Project QFD helps identify the organization requirements and flow them down to the activities, tools, and other solution elements for the project. This approach aids both product definition and resource allocation to clarify and strategically align project goals. The paper explains the method, illustrates it with an example, and discusses its effectiveness through a survey in industry and practical design projects at Stanford. The paper concludes with the proposed work to further disseminate this method.