Quality Function Deployment $($QFD$),$ is a total quality management $($TQM$)$ planning tool used to refine the product and production by identifying and linking critical customer attributes to design parameters. QFD is a highly effective tool for customer$-$driven product development. The concept evolved from the Japanese quality management tool: $$the cause$-$and$-$effect analysis$$ and was brought to the US in the $1980$s$.$ It became popular in the automotive industry and has contributed substantially to the designs of cars we use today. QFD uses a basic design tool in the form of a matrix called $$the house of quality$$ to identify and implement changes in design parameters that suits the customer expectation with any product.

Read the article $$Quality function deployment: A Valuable marketing tool$$ for further information on QFD$.$

Based on the reading and your research answer the following questions.

$1.$ What are the salient features of $$the house of quality$.$ Discuss how the design translates customer need into product development goals, technical capabilities, and improved product designs.

$2.$ What are the goals of QFD and how does it enhance inter$-$functional coordination within the organization?

$3.$ Discuss with examples the applicability of QFD in creating and enhancing a firm$$s competitive advantages.

Submission instructions

$$ Write the questions before your answers.

$$ Your submission should be a minimum of $500$ words and not more than $1000$ words, excluding the reference page;