What and how about quality function deployment (QFD)

QFD is more a process than just a tool for product as well as production process development based on the concept of Company Wide Quality Control. Essential characteristics are: customer orientation, team approach and a way of concisely structuring communications and linking together information. The methodology is described to discuss experiences and some implementation problems. Although first used by the Japanese, experiences from "Western" companies support the results of better products and production planning. Key factor for success is the Cross Functional Management approach