Title: A product design methodology and a global optimisation model for QFD planning process

Authors: Mohamed Sadok Cherif; Belaïd Aouni; Habib Chabchoub

Addresses: Department of Mathematics, Higher Institute of Computer Sciences and Mathematics of Monastir, University of Monastir, B.P. 223, C.P. 5000, Monastir, Tunisia ' Faculty of Management, Decision Aid Research Group, School of Commerce and Administration, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada ' IHEC of Sfax, Sfax University, B.P. 967, C.P. 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a product design methodology (PDM) and a combined benchmarking and goal programming (GP) model that attempt to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of quality function deployment (QFD) as a means to introduce explicitly the customer's preferences into the design and the production processes. The PDM contributes to the strategic guidance and provides clear direction for designers in the early stage of product development. The GP model helps in making key tradeoffs between both satisfactions of customer and designers during the QFD planning process. Focusing on determining a set of engineering characteristics (ECs) that most effectively meet customer requirements (CRs), our explicit model takes into consideration the customer's preferences (best customer perceptions of CRs on the target market), the designers' preferences (product design strategies of the company, market competition, financial factors and other design restrictions), and the uncertainty of data of the decision-making environment. A numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed model.

Keywords: quality function deployment; QFD planning; product design; decision making; imprecise goal programming; preference modelling; satisfaction functions; market competition; financial factors; customer preferences; customer satisfaction; product development; customer requirements; designer preferences; uncertainty.

DOI: 10.1504/IJANS.2014.060996

International Journal of Applied Nonlinear Science, 2014 Vol.1 No.2, pp.173 - 205

Received: 14 Nov 2012
Accepted: 14 Nov 2012

Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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