Quality function deployment: using the customer to outperform the competition on environmental design

The authors describe how to apply quality function deployment (QFD) to competitive environmental initiatives. QFD is a matrix-based system that many companies use to translate customer demands into product design specifications. QFD provides a vehicle for multiple business functions to confront the full range of customer needs at the outset. The outcome of a successful QFD effort-in addition to increased customer satisfaction-is often a 1/3 to 1/2 reduction in product development cycle time. By building environmental dimensions into the QFD system, design teams can streamline their responses to customer environmental requirements