TRIZ or DFMA Combined With QFD as Product Design Methodology: A Review

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a structured methodology that uses customer and technical requirements for designers and manufacturers to provide better products. Many researchers combine or integrate the technique of QFD with other methodologies such as Theory Inventive of Problem Solving (TRIZ) or Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) to optimise product design innovation and improvement. The combined methodologies are even used to solve process problems. Initial literature review of the application of stand-alone QFD poised several problems. Combining QFD with other techniques, such as TRIZ and DFMA, has helped to address these issues and forms the basis of future research. The integrated methods can solve main contradictory problems more precisely from product demand analysis to product design, production and application. Review work of the literature, specifically that on research and development of QFD, TRIZ and DFMA, showed that the said methodologies have been widely and successfully implemented in several practical applications such as resolving conflicts between customer and technical/engineering requirements and reducing production cost. This review work provides an in-depth analysis of identifying and finding issues of strengths, weaknesses and outcomes of the QFD when combined with TRIZ and also of QFD integrated with DFMA.