Title: Innovations by preventing the breaking of electronic switches using Innovative Total Quality Function Deployment: a team-oriented effort in an Indian company

Authors: S. Vinodh, S.R. Devadasan, D. Rajanayagam

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Manager-Standards and Systems, Salzer Electronics Limited, Coimbatore-641 047, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Today|s competitive situation demands that companies bring out innovation while reacting to customers| voices. In order to face this situation, a model named as Innovative Total Quality Function Deployment (ITQFD) is proposed in this paper. ITQFD facilitates the spontaneous involvement of team members for bringing innovation out of customers| voices. This paper explains its implementation study conducted in an electronics switches manufacturing company. The experiences of conducting this implementation study, and also the results of the feedback gathered, indicated that ITQFD can be implemented in real time practice, provided the top management|s support and commitment are ensured.

Keywords: innovative total quality function deployment; ITQFD; quality function deployment; QFD; India; voice of the customer; innovation; electronic switches; idea generation; total quality management; TQM; process management; benchmarking; teamwork.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2007.015143

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2007 Vol.2 No.2, pp.152 - 169

Published online: 18 Sep 2007 *

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