Quality Function Deployment: More Than a Design Tool

Purpose – This study investigates to what extent QFD can be used in quality improvement rather than design activities. Design/methodology/approach – A framework was developed for implementation of QFD as a quality improvement tool. A case study approach is used to test this framework, and quality issues were analyzed using the framework in a ceramic tile manufacturing company. Findings – The results showed considerable improvements in the critical quality characteristics identified and sales rates, demonstrating the potential of QFD to be used in assessing and prioritizing areas of improvement, and converting them into measurable process or product requirements. Research limitations/implications – One case study was completed. More studies would be beneficial to support current findings. Practical implications – This framework provides structured approach and guidelines for practitioners in adapting QFD for quality improvements in existing products or processes. Originality/value – This study proposes a new framework to use QFD in quality improvement activities, expanding its application areas. Moreover, the results of the literature study performed provide a valuable collection of practical QFD implementation examples. Keywords Quality function deployment (QFD), quality improvement, customer complaints, voice of customer (VOC), house of quality (HOQ)

Smart Product Design Process through the Implementation of a Fuzzy Kano-AHP-DEMATEL-QFD Approach

Product design has become a critical process for the healthcare technology industry, given the ever-changing demands, vague customer requirements, and interrelations among design criteria. This paper proposed a novel integration of fuzzy Kano, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to translate customer needs into product characteristics and prioritize design alternatives considering interdependence and vagueness. First, the customer requirements were established. Second, the fuzzy KANO was applied to calculate the impact of each requirement, often vague, on customer satisfaction. Third,designalternativesweredefined,whiletherequirements’weightswerecalculated usingAHP.DEMATELwaslaterimplementedforevaluatingtheinterdependenceamongalternatives. Finally,QFDwasemployedtoselectthebestdesign. Ahipreplacementsurgeryaiddeviceforelderly people was used for validation. In this case, collateral issues were the most important requirement, while code change was the best-ranked design

Ranking of Performance Assessment Measures at Tehran Hotel by Combining DEMATEL, ANP, and SERVQUAL Models under Fuzzy Condition

An effective hybrid model has been proposed by combining ANP, SERVQUAL, and DEMATEL techniques. This model aims to meet different purposes of the hotels and diverse needs of customers at different stages, that is, reservation, reception, accommodation, catering, and check-out. High quality services are ensured when customer expectations have been provided at the expectation level of the customers or beyond that. SERVQUAL model is used to assess the performance of the organizations in terms of five dimensions: responsiveness, empathy, reliability, assurance, and tangibles. Super matrix calculations and pair comparisons required in ANP model have been carried out using DEMATEL model in order to measure the influence of performance assessment measures on each other. In this paper, SERVQUAL model parameters have been considered as the expectations of the hotel clients. Then these customer expectations have been analyzed using DEMATEL model and finally have been ranked using ANP model. Parameters of SERVQUAL model are comprised of verbal and vague criteria in terms of the responses provided by the organizations and customers. This has led to fuzzy conditions in this research. The hybrid model provided better results compared with each individual model, in terms of meeting customer satisfaction and the organization’s objectives

Hospital Waste Management through Green QFD Implementation

Based on case studies conducted in various health institutions, the high production of medical waste is one proof that medical waste management is still problematic. This study examines various problems in the field of medical waste management. This study explores staff perceptions of medical waste management. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes as well as the role of health workers on medical waste management. Here we study the quality index and environmental index of two health care centers, one is a private hospital and one is a government hospital and compared these two indices with each other via a questionnaire survey. To produce more environmentally friendly services, customers, and environmental criteria must be considered during the decision-making process, and the Implementation of Green QFD (G-QFD) provides a very useful methodology to meet this goal