Title: Recent developments in the differential equations of design and conformance quality

Authors: Maria Roselli; Pietro De Giovanni

Addresses: IRCCS S. Matteo; Università degli studi di Pavia 27100, Pavia, Italy. ' Faculdade de Economia, Nova School of Business and Economics, Campus Campolide, 1099, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract: This research proposes some new differential equations to be used by practitioners and theorists when investigating design and conformance quality. Although those two quality features have been already extensively studied, the literature reveals several limitations that this research attempts to overcome. The differential equations used so far in game theory are analysed, identifying their tradeoffs, interactions and limitations and then original equations are developed to explore both design and conformance quality. In order to study conformance quality, its differential equation should consider not only failures but also prevention and appraisal. The differential equation of design quality does not always increase, but instead, it increases and decreases over time according to a number of external factors. Design and conformance quality generate several economic tradeoffs and managerial interactions that firms need to consider when implementing a total quality strategy.

Keywords: design quality; conformance quality; game theory; differential equations; economic tradeoffs; managerial interactions; limitations; failures; failure prevention; failure appraisal; external factors; TQM; total quality management; decision sciences; risk management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSRM.2012.046604

International Journal of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management, 2012 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.163 - 174

Received: 19 Jan 2011
Accepted: 01 Jun 2011
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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