Quality function deployment (QFD) technology designed for contract manufacturing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an overall review of quality function deployment (QFD) in the past nearly 30 years; to clarify widespread misperceptions about QFD; to adapt its use to the product development model of contract manufacturing; and to simplify the complexity of QFD and effectively integrate its contents. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts “action research” (AR) as its research methodology. The action research was conducted using a “research/consultant strategy” in a series of projects of collaboration with contract manufacturing companies. Findings – The paper corrects widespread misperceptions about QFD, and adapts QFD to a specific product development model. Research limitations/implications – The paper uses a participatory and interpretive approach to develop and explain the new QFD model, but the authors are restricted by the highly confidential nature of the R&D information, and not authorized to publish actual case study data. The research value lies in the discussion of quality deployment and narrowly defined QFD, and the focus on comprehensive reorganization of the QFD structure on which there have been very few English‐language publications. Practical implications – The paper makes an adaptation of QFD so that it can be effectively used in contract manufacturing in a suitable form for modern supply chain. The paper also clarifies how QFD can be implemented by a systems approach, rather than a project approach. Originality/value – The paper simplifies the complexity of QFD and effectively integrates its contents through the proposition of a quality deployment system and a quality assurance system. The distinguishing features of the former reside in five main differences from the original quality deployment system. The latter is subdivided into 17 subsystems, which form the design framework for quality assurance activities.