QFD
Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a method used by companies to make products and services that better match what customers want. Think of it as translating customer wishes into actual product features. It's often shown as a chart that looks like a house (which is why it's sometimes called "The House of Quality"). Companies use QFD to make sure they're building the right things in the right way, rather than guessing what customers might want. It's similar to other customer-focused improvement methods like Voice of Customer (VOC) or Customer Journey Mapping, but QFD is more structured and detailed in connecting customer needs to specific product features.
Examples in Resumes
Led QFD workshops to align product development with customer requirements
Implemented Quality Function Deployment process resulting in 30% reduction in product design changes
Used QFD analysis to improve customer satisfaction scores by 25%
Typical job title: "Quality Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Quality Engineers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Learning Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you implement QFD in an organization that has never used it before?
Expected Answer: A senior professional should discuss the step-by-step approach: starting with customer feedback collection, training teams, creating pilot projects, and gradually expanding the program while measuring results. They should mention change management aspects and how to handle resistance.
Q: Can you describe a successful QFD project you led and its business impact?
Expected Answer: Should provide a specific example showing how they gathered customer requirements, translated them into technical specifications, and achieved measurable improvements in customer satisfaction or product quality.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the main components of a House of Quality matrix?
Expected Answer: Should explain customer requirements, technical requirements, relationship matrix, and correlation matrix in simple terms, showing how they work together to connect customer needs to product features.
Q: How do you gather and prioritize customer requirements for QFD?
Expected Answer: Should discuss various methods of collecting customer feedback (surveys, interviews, focus groups) and how to organize and rank requirements based on customer importance.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is QFD and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should explain that QFD is a method to translate customer needs into product features, helping ensure products meet customer expectations. Should mention basic benefits like reduced development time and improved customer satisfaction.
Q: What's the difference between customer requirements and technical requirements in QFD?
Expected Answer: Should explain that customer requirements are what customers want in their own words (like 'easy to use'), while technical requirements are measurable specifications that fulfill these wants (like 'maximum weight of 5 pounds').
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of QFD principles
- Data collection and organization
- Customer feedback analysis
- Basic quality tools usage
Mid (2-5 years)
- QFD project participation
- House of Quality matrix creation
- Customer requirements analysis
- Cross-functional team collaboration
Senior (5+ years)
- QFD program implementation
- Strategic quality planning
- Team leadership and training
- Complex project management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with customer feedback analysis
- Lack of cross-functional team experience
- Unable to explain basic quality concepts
- No practical experience with quality improvement tools
Related Terms
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