Showing posts with label ISQFD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ISQFD. Show all posts

05 September 2019

ISQFD'19-Boise: The 25th International Symposium on QFD

Over seven decades ago in the aftermath of the WW II, Japanese engineers learned from Dr. W. Edwards Deming about statistical process control (SPC), and taking to heart Deming’s teachings, rebuilt Japan’s industrial base. Over time. SPC morphed it into Kaizen and TQM.

At the height of Japanese quality dominance in the 1980s, a handful of Americans discovered the Japanese secret to new product excellence: Quality Function Deployment (QFD). These Americans, including QFD Institute advisors Larry Sullivan and Bob King, studied with Dr. Yoji Akao, who happily shared his knowledge to anyone who came to him, just like Dr. Deming did decades earlier.

QFD spread globally, triggered by the case studies published through the Symposia on QFD, the first of which was organized in Michigan (USA) in 1989 by Bob Adams and which became the predecessor of the International Symposium on QFD.

The QFD taught in the 1980s, however, was rooted in the 1960s Japanese TQM era and was inefficient in many Western business environments and technology-based product development. Dr. Yoji Akao, one of the founders of QFD, approached the QFD Institute to modernize Japanese 1960s QFD for a 21st century global business environment, with Six Sigma precision and Lean Sigma speed.

With the new ISO 16355 Standard established in 2015, Modern QFD has transcended beyond it’s original manufacturing form to become a universally applicable toolset for new product and business development, business process re-engineering, corporate transformation, innovation, and, of course, quality. Tools included in Modern QFD are Blitz QFD®, Customer Voice Table, Maximum Value Table, modern House of Quality using AHP prioritization math, and many more.

Showcased in the 25th International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) on September 6–7, 2019 are case studies and research that reflect these exciting advancements including Modern QFD for business transformation. They are but a sample of the state of QFD Best Practice from around the world, taking on important, timely topics and presenting solutions with QFD analytics and tools.

Once again, activities for people of all levels of QFD experience are offered at the 2019 conference: the QFD Green Belt® Certificate Course on September 4–5; QFD Black Belt® Certificate Course on September 9–13; QFD Black Belt® Update Course and QFD Green Belt® Update Course on September 8. These QFD Belt Courses are our way of giving back to our QFD community.

Without the hard work, diligence, and generosity of our authors and presenters and QFD Institute staff, this symposium could not have taken place. Our gratitude for all. We also acknowledge support from the members of the International Council for QFD and the members of the ISO 16355 QFD technical committee.

If you are interested in participating the next ISQFD and/or QFD courses, or if you would like to purchase the symposium transactions, please contact the QFD Institute.



14 July 2019

Tutorial "QFD for Business Transformation"

click for this youtube
click here for Autoline youtube

Back in 2016 we sensed General Motors was onto something when we saw one of their VPs on the Autoline THIS WEEK. In that TV interview, she emphasized "mobility" as the company's new business strategy into the future, responding to the shift in the customer needs from being a car owner to a mobility user.

In fact, GM had filed for the trademark "General Mobility" around the same time, we hear, suggesting that top management had been working out the strategic transformation for some time, in order to stay sustainable in the face of recent car-sharing and on-demand transportation business models as well as consumer preference for convenience and economic efficiency over the traditional ownership prestige, and anticipation of new technologies such as autonomous vehicles.

It was not until 2018 when their number one Japanese competitor caught the wind of this. At the 2018 CES trade show, the president of Toyota Motor Company announced that his company, too, aims to become a "mobility service company," in spite of their long standing position as a manufacturer of "cars that give you pleasure in owning" as emphasized by frequent commercial campaigns "Let's Go Places" by driving their cars.

While we root for both companies to succeed, one wonders,
  • How do you go about making such business transformation?
  • What actions are required of an organization to bring out fundamental changes in the way they conduct business?
  • Are there ways to effect transformation systematically and effectively?

Are there tools that QFD can offer?

The September 2019 International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) will include a tutorial precisely on this subject.

To remain sustainable in the long term, an organization needs to be able to systematically and rapidly adapt/transform its products, services, business models, resources and enterprise infrastructure in response to the changing business environment. To accomplish this in a coordinated manner, the business needs to be considered as a socio-technical system operating within a very complex and highly dynamic environment.

More often than not, the changes in market expectations and technological capabilities demand transformation across multiple organizations in integrated supply chains, where some businesses will be software intensive businesses, while others focus on physical offerings. These changes are being accelerated with the emergence of Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 developments and capabilities.

The tutorial "QFD for Business Transformation" will introduce the principles and relationships between Modern QFD and business transformation planning and development for businesses. The tutorial will reference relevant sections in the new ISO 16355 standard for QFD, and give attendees exercises to connect the principles and key methods, particularly Hoshin Kanri, the initial analytic stages of QFD, and prioritization and methods like analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

The tutorial will consist of approximately 1 hour of lecturing and 1 hour of exercises using a case study from 'Space logistics systems' scenario.

This tutorial was developed by three QFD Black Belts®: Dr. Kim Stansfield, Steve Dimelow, and John Fraser and has been successfully taught in UK at INCOSE (systems engineering) conferences.

This September, please join us to gain new knowledge and skill-set on this important subject.

The 2-day ISQFD including this tutorial is complimentary to those who sign up for the QFD courses.



About the Tutorial Instructors

The ISQFD tutorial "QFD for Business Transformation" will be taught by Dr. Kim Stansfield and Mr. Steve Dimelow.

Dr. Kim Stansfield is a QFD Black Belt® and 2016 Akao Prize recipient. He is currently Associate Professor of Transformational Systems Engineering WMG, at University of Warwick, UK. He has over 20 years of experience in automotive and aerospace control systems and also in applying QFD and DFSS to large Enterprise IT Systems development. 

Dr. Stansfield started his career in the Composites Group of the UK's Royal Aerospace Establishment, and then moved to Lucas Engineering and Systems and Energy Technologies Institute. He has been the UK representative for the development of the ISO 16355 standard for QFD since 2010.  


Mr. Steve Dimelow is a QFD Black Belt® and known in industry for his ability to solve complex engineering problems so that Projects can be brought in on time, cost and quality. His professional career includes British based Heavy Haulage company (ALE Ltd) in Abu-Dhabi, Hydratight Hevilifts in Walsall where he was involved in the design and commissioning of computer controlled Hydraulic Jacking Systems and Hydraulic Bolting Systems for the Civil, Powergen and Petro/Chem industries, followed by Smiths Aerospace in Wolverhampton where he was a Lead designer on Primary and Secondary Flight Controls for Civil and Military Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce in Derby where he has worked on Military and Civil engine programmes as well as new technology acquisition programmes.

It was during his work in the Aerospace business where he developed interest in Systems Engineering and sought the influential Systems Engineering Specialist role. In 2016, Steve earned a QFD Blackbelt® after searching for a method to connect business to engineering. He has been successful in applying QFD / Systems Engineering principles and Systems Thinking techniques both in practice on engineering programmes and through ongoing corporate training/coaching campaigns. Steve is currently contracted to QuEST Global Engineering Services as a Consultant Systems Engineer.

To inquire about this tutorial, ISQFD, and QFD certificate courses, please contact the QFD Institute.






01 July 2019

Using QFD and AHP's Structured Analysis to Surface Market Predictions and Formulate Future Strategy

This might come across as strange but we once heard a Navy officer say their number one enemy is the Air Force. It was meant as a metaphor describing how different divisions within an organization fight for the same resources.

Similar situations can be found in the business world. One product division views another as their number one competitor to be defeated, a sales force competes for a territory or market share with another department in the same company, or a VP demands a budget for her group's project pushing back against another VP doing the same for his.

Internal completion is good generally, but when leadership is disconnected for various reasons and travels in conflicting directions, it becomes a problem. It leads to unnecessary redundancy, wasted resources, broken team spirit, and diluted market focus.

While it might not always be possible to cause leadership to change his/her mind, what if you could offer a single view of company activities, market, and competitive environment that everyone can work from? What if you could offer a versatile structured analysis that enables the leadership to see current market direction as well as help them formulate strategic responses to changing elements in the future in a systematic way?

Here is a case study that used Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to surface the market predictions and AHP to discuss and decide on future events, showing the ways to achieve agreement and alignment among the leadership: "Predicting Future Health Insurance Scenarios using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)". This case study was done by Carey Helper and Glenn Mazur and was presented in 2008 (ISBN 1-889477-20-6). Here are some of the analysis used.
Mr. Carey W. Hepler is one of our QFD Black Belt® graduates and the recipient of the 2010 Akao Prize® for Excellence, a member of the US technical advisory group for the ISO 16355standard for QFD, a Six Sigma Black Belt, and an Net Promoter System Champion at UnitedHealth Group®.

He has been applying various aspects of modern QFD successfully in the healthcare and insurance fields. (See below for a list of some of Carey's papers). We are pleased to announce that Carey will be co-teaching the QFD Green Belt® Certificate Course on September 4-5, 2019 at the 25th International Symposium on QFD in Boise, Idaho USA.

Since its inception, the aim of the QFD Institute training has been to produce practitioners who are capable of applying QFD thinking and tools correctly and effectively in their profession for successful development of new products, services, and business processes, and by doing so, to foster the next generation of QFD practitioners within his/her organization.

Carey is a good example, and we are pleased to have him co-teach in Boise. His experience in the QFD Belt® training will be an added benefit for new students who might have questions on how to go about applying QFD in their work or tips for a successful outcome.

PDF Brochures:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

QFD papers/presentations by Carey W. Hepler:

"QFD and Politics - A Sure Way To Start An Argument"
Carey Hepler, QFD Black Belt®, 2010 recipient of Akao Prize, Solantic Urgent Care (USA)
First of its kind, this paper examines using QFD in a political campaign. QFD is the art and science of taking the voice of the customer (VOC), and, more specifically, the top needs of the targeted customer segments, into consideration before developing a product or service. This paper discusses the specific steps of using Modern Blitz QFD® tools for an actual election campaign by his wife for a Florida county judgeship. Specifically, how to: 1) select target segments; 2) use the voice (top needs) of the target segment customers to develop the strategy; 3) create messaging; and 4) deploy the messaging to the targeted segments. [ISBN 1-889477-24-9]

"The QFD Process at Medtronic - Creating the Next Generation of Insulin Pumps and Sensors"
Carey Hepler, QFD Black Belt®, 2010 recipient of Akao Prize, Medtronic; Cary Talbot, QFD Black Belt®, Senior Marketing Product Planner, Medtronic, USA
Changes in technology and customer expectations are creating many new opportunities for medical device organizations. As the oldest and most respected diabetic medical device organization in the world, Medtronic MiniMed strives to stay ahead of the competition by quickly responding to these changes with new and improved insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring products. Recently, we have began using QFD to discover the unspoken customer needs for targeted portions of our population. QFD has allowed us to convert their needs into new products, services, and features to delight and attract new customers as well as retain current customers. This paper will describe some of the new opportunities we are facing, and show step by step how we are addressing them by understanding the Voice of the Customer and innovating and implementing exciting solutions. [ISBN 1-889477-23-0]

Predicting Future Health Insurance Scenarios using Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Carey Hepler, QFD Black Belt®, Innovation Director, BCBS of Florida, USA; Glenn Mazur, QFD Red Belt®, QFD Institute, USA
This project used a combination of QFD, AHP, and other forecasting tools to look at possible 2008 election and policy outcomes and what new opportunities might be created to service both traditional members of health insurnce products as well as those who are uninsured in the State of Florida. The identified scenarios can be used to map and prioritize different market segments, formulate key customer needs into value propositions, determine strengths and weaknesses in their current competencies and capabilities, and then initiate service quality projects to begin improving those areas where customers will need them most. Several quality methodologies have been used to design successful products. [ISBN 1-889477-20-6]

The Many Faces of AHP - How to use AHP with Different Audiences for Maximum Results
Carey Hepler, QFD Black Belt®, Innovation Director, BCBS of Florida, USA; Glenn Mazur, QFD Red Belt®, QFD Institute, USA
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) is the oldest and most respected health insurance organization in the State of Florida. This paper discusses the company's use of AHP in terms of audience and technology delivery, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each of the technologies when working with the company's constituent groups. [ISBN 1-889477-19-2]

Finding Customer Delights Using QFD
Carey Hepler, QFD Black Belt®, Integrated Market Intelligence, BCBS of Florida, USA; and Glenn Mazur, QFD Red Belt®, QFD Institute, USA
Changes in market demographics and the regulatory environment are creating many new opportunities for health-care and related organizations. As the oldest and most respected health insurance organization in the State of Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) strives to stay ahead of the competition by using QFD to discover the unspoken customer needs for an underserved portion of our population. QFD has allowed us to convert their needs into new products, services, and features to delight and attract new customers as well as retain current customers. This paper describes some of the new opportunities we are facing, and shows step by step how we are addressing them by understanding the Voice of the Customer and innovating and implementing exciting solutions. [ISBN 1-889477-18-4]




03 June 2019

 The 25th International Symposium on QFD
 ISO 16355 QFD Training
 September 4 - 13, 2019
 Boise, Idaho USA

The 25th International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD)

September 6 - 7
  • Brochure:    WEB    |    PDF
  • Tutorial "QFD for Business Transformation"

QFD Green Belt® Certificate Course

September 4 - 5
  • Course Contents:   WEB   |   PDF
  • Internationally acclaimed introductory to Modern Blitz QFD®, ISO 16355, No-Matrix QFD
  • Compatible with Six Sigma, DFSS, Stage Gate, EFQM, TQM, Baldrige, and other quality initiatives
  • Start applying tools in the class on your own project or practice on a generic model.
  • No prerequisites.
  • Includes templates for modern QFD / modern House of Quality / AHP, ISO 16355 QFD reference materials, and the International Symposium on QFD (Sep 7-8).

QFD Black Belt® Certificate Course

September 9 - 13
    • Course Details:  WEB   |   PDF
    • Advanced modern QFD®, ISO 16355 for revenue producing new product development, full deployments of modern Comprehensive QFD, Kansei Engineering (Lifestyle QFD), Hoshin Kanri, New Kano Model, TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), Reverse QFD, and more.
    • 5-day facilitator-level training with hands-on workshop elements. Includes the QFD Black Belt® level templates, ISO 16355 QFD reference materials, over 1,000-page training manual and case studies, plus International Symposium on QFD (Sep 7-8).
    • This course has prerequisites. However, those who select the Facilitator's Package can attend the QFD Black Belt® without prerequisites. 


    QFD Black Belt® Update Course
    September 8 @ 8 am - 3 pm
    • Course Details:   WEB    |    PDF
    • Semi-private coaching / refresher for the past graduates of the QFD Black Belt® course.
    • Registration: Please select "QFD Black Belt® Update Package."  

      QFD Green Belt® Update Course
      September 8 @ 4 pm - 7 pm
      • Course Details:   WEB    |    PDF 
      • Semi-private coaching / refresher for the past graduates of the QFD Green Belt® course, especially those who earned a provisional QFD Green Belt® more than 18 months ago and/or those who wish to advance to the QFD Black Belt® level. 
      • Registration: Please select "QFD Black Belt® Package #1" or "QFD Green Belt® Update Package".


      Venue


      Hampton Inn & Suites Boise Downtown
      495 S. Capitol Blvd.
      Boise, Idaho 83702 USA
      TEL: +1 208-331-1900

      Hotel Reservation page: $140 + taxes
      This hotel provides complimentary shuttle service from Boise Airport (BOI).

      Travel Information



      Contact

      Please contact the QFD Institute if you have questions about the above events.
      We look forward to seeing you in Boise this September.







      05 January 2019

      2019 ISQFD Call For Papers

      speaker at a past ISQFD
      The QFD Institute and International Council for QFD are issuing a Call For Papers / Call For Speakers, for the 25th International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD'19), scheduled for September 6–7, 2019 in Boise, Idaho USA.

      Interested parties are invited to submit a draft paper by February 1, 2019.

      See Details...

      We look forward to your participation.




      19 October 2017

      Case Studies from 2017 International Symposium on QFD Tokyo

      The 2017 International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) was held in September 2017 in Tokyo, Japan.

      The essence of QFD is to assure quality in new "creations" by bringing the affected stakeholders together to discuss their priorities before resources are committed.

      2017 ISQFD Tokyo
      What the Tokyo symposium reflected is that the "creation" is not limited just to products and services offered to consumers, but can it also include strategies, business models, educational structures, testing and validation processes, human resources, and so many other applications to "get it right, the first time."

      Let us share the papers and case studies from around the world that were presented at the 2017 ISQFD. They clearly demonstrate how broadly QFD can be defined in the modern world.

      To read synapses of these papers, please visit the QFD Institute newsletter.

      ISO 16355

      • "Quality Function Deployment for Agile Product Development"
      • "Transitioning from JIS Q 9025 to ISO 16355"
      • "A Framework for QFD-based Service Marketing"
      • "Beyond ISO 16355: QFD for a Digital World"

      Software / Technology QFD:

      • "Green Design Product Connected by Internet of Things VIA QFD"
      • "Analysis of platform-based Business Models using Quality Function Deployment"
      • "Method for Creating Quality Table from Online Reviews"
      • "Agile Software Quality Function Deployment"
      • "Acceptance Test-Driven Development and QFD in Business System Software Development"

      Service / Education QFD:

      • "Consistency of Service Quality through QFD & Visual Manual"
      • "A New Approach to Developing Human Resources Using QFD"
      • "Functions and Quality for Supporting Autonomous Learning"
      • "QFD: Meeting Motivation Needs and Performance Needs to Reformulate Incentive Scheme"
      • "Using QFD in Chinese Fast Food Chains."

      QFD Fundamentals:

      • "Study on the Procedures for a Conceptual Picture of Quality Function Deployment (QFD)"
      • "QFD for societal and product platform dynamics"
      • "Application of Customer Requirements to the Research and Development Process in New Automobiles via Practicing QFD"
      • "A Model for Integrating Quality Function Deployment and Human-Centered Design"
      • "Essential QFD to Make a Solo Entrepreneur Dream Come True"
      • "Quality Performance Assessment Based on the AHP-QFD Approach"
      The conference also included the presentations by two living Deming Prize recipients:
      Dr. Noriaki Kano on Kano model and QFD, and Greg Watson on Japanese Quality tools and Hoshin.

      Again, the highlights of these presentations can be found at this QFD Institute page.

      The 2018 ISQFD is planned in Hong Kong, China. You can receive information about it, including Call For Papers and symposium details, by subscribing the free QFDI Newsletter.

      Meanwhile, you too can start using the ISO 16355 Modern QFD tools for your project and jobs by acquiring the solid skills in the QFD Green Belt® and QFD Black Belt® Courses.

      These courses are also perfect for those who wish to enhance their professional credentials, as well as those who wish to best their paper quality for the 2018 and future ISQFDs.






      24 August 2016

      2016 International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD)

      Fast approaching is the 22nd ISQFD on September 9-10, 2016 in Boise, Idaho USA.

      Important trendy topics will be a focus of this year's presentations, including the Internet of Things (Iot), ISO 16355, Complex Systems Engineering, Sustainable Energy System Development, Corporate Strategy Deployment, 3D Virgual Reality Prototyping, and more.

      Please join us for learning new things, to get inspired and engage in discussions in a supportive environment.

      View the video.

      If you are not an ASQ member,
      you can watch by subscribing at ASQ
      ASQ TV has just produced a video on the new ISO 16355 standard. Here is a glimpse of some of the things that will be presented, discussed, and taught in the Symposium, as well as QFD Green Belt® and QFD Black Belt® courses.

      New product developers and Lean / Six Sigma professionals should not miss this opportunity to gain solid knowledge of the new ISO 16355 first-hand from the convenor of the ISO committee.

      You (training attendees) will also get the QFD templates, the ISO 16355 1,000-page reference bibiliography and case studies, and the international symposium is free for the Boise course attendees!!

       Here is the Registration Page.

      Travel Page

      Venue Page





      11 February 2016

      2016 ISQFD Call For Papers

      The QFD Institute is issuing Call For Papers for its 2016 International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD). Interested parties are invited to send a paper proposal by May 01, 2016.

      This symposium welcomes participation from all countries and industries. Both completed projects and those still in progress are candidates for presentation.

      Speaker benefits include discounts for the symposium and QFD courses in Boise.


      More about this International Symposium (ISQFD):

      (Click to go to Call For Papers page)













      23 August 2014

      QFD in Europe - Reporting 2014 QFD activities across EU

      2014 has been a big year for QFD in Europe.
      The statue of Poseidon in Gothenburg
      photo: Historiker/Wiki Commons
      1. The spring blossomed with QFD Green Belt® and QFD Black Belt® in-company training sessions in Nuremberg Germany, Prague Czech Republic, and Waterloo Belgium. Several projects are well under way.
      2. The summer heated up with a June QFD workshop during the International Academy for Quality (IAQ) annual meeting in Stenungsbaden Sweden, using QFD tools to capture the voice of the IAQ membership (including our Chair, Sr. Mary Jean Ryan) in order to explore ways to improve the membership experience. The session was followed by an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet and musical dinner cruise!
      3. Next was a special Pre-EOQ Congress session in Gothenburg Sweden attended by 37 participants. This included a 2.5 hour QFD White Belt® training session to introduce the new VOC (Voice of the Customer) and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) tools used in Modern Blitz QFD®.
      4. In the main European Organization for Quality (EOQ) session was a paper on the ISO 16355 standard (new QFD standard).
      5. Vienna
        photo: Eliza0027/Wiki Commons
      6. The ISO Technical Committee (TC) 69 for Statistical Methods held its annual plenary session in Vienna Austria later in June. We were able to finalize the ISO 16355 draft and launch its commentary phase. Work on Parts 2 and 3 have begun.
      7. The autumn is ablaze with new events, starting with the 20th International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) as well as a
        QFD Green Belt® course to be held in Istanbul Turkey from September 2 - 5, 2014.  This is a great opportunity for readers in EU and ME regions to attend the today's best QFD training and earn an international QFD certificate.
      8. The 2014 Akao Prize® is being awarded to Associate Prof. Jaroslav Machan of the Czech Republic during the ISQFD.

      Keep up the good work, Europe. I will update you on Turkey soon!



      14 May 2014

      The Quality Conference Crush has begun…

      Well, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) World Conference on Quality Improvement (WCQI) has come and gone, and I must say for me, it was a tremendous success.

      Hilton Anatole Dallas was ASQ WCQI venue
      First, it was held in what could only be described as a museum of Asian art – the Hilton Anatole in Dallas Texas. Yes, it took 20 minutes to walk across the lobby to the ASQ center, but the art and the gardens were a welcomed distraction to stave off the fatigue of doing this 3-4 times a day. (I lost a pound of weight despite the never-ending buffets for lunch and dinner!)

      Presentations by leading CEOs, a sketch artist, and others reminded us that quality should also include – fun!  2015 is in Nashville at the OpryLand, so I recommend y'all come on down

      ASQ Division meetings I attended for Healthcare and Service are revising their Body of Knowledges (BOK) and I am pushing to modernize the QFD entries. Some of them are stuck in the 1980s!  I also popped in to the TAG 176 meeting to hear the latest on ISO 9001-2015. This is a BIG thing.

      Concurrent with the ASQ were the annual U.S. meetings of the International Academy for Quality (IAQ) of which I am now Secretary-Treasurer. Our general meeting included updates on work with UNESCO educations projects, work on quality in governance. We had really great introductions on design of experiments for wine and the growth in food and product safety testing in China. I also learned a lot from a presentation on the early philosophers whose work is often cited by quality professionals.
       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      Coming up is the IAQ concurrent meetings with the European Organization for Quality (EOQ) to be held in Gothenburg Sweden in June. I'll be presenting a Pre-Congress workshop and a paper on the new ISO 16355 standard for QFD being developed.

      The ISO 16355 QFD standard is going into its first draft to be reviewed in June in Vienna, so I'll be traveling there after Sweden. Stay informed with the ISO 16355 group on LinkedIn.

        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 


      2014 ISQFD in Istanbul
      Istanbul Turkey is my next stop. The basics of the Modern Blitz QFD® and the ISO 16355 standard will be taught at the International QFD Green Belt® course on 2-3 September 2014. We're running a great early bird discount, so register soon.

      On 4-5 September is the International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) where we will celebrate 20 years of this annual get-together of the top QFD professionals in the world. Especially folks in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, we are close to home.

       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      The ASQ Technical Communities Conference has invited me to Orlando Florida (yeah Mickey!) to present "Delighting Customers in Health Care using QFD" on 30-31 October 2014. This will include updates on recent projects in clinical, medical device, software, and insurance applications. 
       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      For three consecutive years, Charleston was named
      the top U.S. destination by Conde Nest readers.
      Charleston SC is our chosen spot for the North American Symposium on QFD.

      Our 26th consecutive program still has the Call for Papers open (we want you!) and will include updates on ISO 16355.

       As always, we will offer the QFD Green Belt®, QFD Black Belt® and the Update courses.

      Some great package discounts await your registration.  

      So, wherever you are this year, try to catch one of these events. At the least, stay in touch because your official source for QFD is on the move.

       glenn



      06 April 2014

      QFD training in Dallas and Istanbul

      Here are two opportunities to learn the modern QFD and best practices from one of the top QFD instructors around the world.  

      Both courses include your copy of the Modern QFD training manual, Modern QFD templates, and case studies. No Prerequisites.

       . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

       May 7–8, 2014
      Dallas, Texas USA

      This course will be held conveniently following the 2014 ASQ World Congress, in a venue next door. Registration is in progress. The attendees of this course will be eligible for the December 2014 QFD Black Belt® Certificate Course in Charleston (a discount will be offered). 

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      September 2–3, 2014
      Istanbul, Turkey

      This course will be held conveniently at the same venue as the 2014 International Symposium on QFD. To mark the inaugural QFD course in Istanbul, the QFD Institute is offering significant price breaks for early registrations. We encourage you to take advantage of this and sign up now!













        26 September 2013

        Report from the 2013 International Symposium on QFD

        On September 4 - 13, 2013, the QFD enthusiasts from around the world gathered together in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the 19th International Symposium on QFD and Training. It was attended from as far as Brazil, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, Canada and USA.

        We learned the latest case studies and research, innovative new tools and applications, as well as the international trends. The face-to-face interactions were priceless even in this digital age. We made new friends, renewed old friendships, and learned from each other, getting inspired to do things even better at work and home with the help of QFD.

        If you missed this year's event, we do hope you will join us next year (see below for 2014 Calls For Papers). Meanwhile, here are some of the highlights from the 2013 events:
        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        Akao Prize® is awarded to individuals who have made notable contribution to the dissemination and advancement of QFD for many years on the international level. The 2013 Akao Prize® was awarded to Sixten Schockert (GERMANY) and Yoshimichi Watanabe (JAPAN).
        Recipients of this year's and past Akao Prize® at 2013 ISQFD
        (Dr. Akao, front center, is flanked by this year's recipients)

        Best Paper - SCG Chemicals, Thailand
        Best Paper Award: "Quality Function Deployment for New Product Development: Transforming Waste to Worth" By Pattarit Sahasyodhin (SCG Chemicals); Kritaya Suparnpongs, QFD Black Belt® (Siam Cement Group); Paweena Lertchanyakul, QFD Green Belt® (SCG Chemicals), THAILAND.  




        Best Presentation - Tamagawa University, Japan
        Best Presentation Award: "A Study of Service Quality Improvement Using the Theories of Nonverbal Communication, FMEA and QFD" By Kazushi Nagai (Tamagawa University); Tadashi Ohfuji (Tamagawa University); Masamitsu Kiuchi, Ph.D. (Josai University), JAPAN. 



        photo - 2013 QFD Black Belt<sup>®</sup> Graduates
        2013 QFD Black Belt® Graduates
        QFD Belts® Achievement: Once again, we salute those who rose to the challenge of earning the QFD Green Belt® and QFD Black Belt® in Santa Fe. Congratulations.





        Dr. & Mrs. Akao
        Dr. Yoji Akao, founder of QFD, remains just as enthusiastic about learning new case studies and students as he was nearly half a century ago when he began the research that led to the development of QFD.




        Native American blessing
        Native American Blessing. The QFD attendees were honored to receive this special blessing, performed by the tribal governor of Picuris Pueblo, one of the Eight Northern Pueblos in the Santa Fe region.


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        Join us in 2014! 

        2014 QFD Call For Papers









        21 July 2013

        QFD for public transportation, software development, eco-friendly supply chain

        The 2013 International Symposium on QFD (ISQFD) will be held on September 6-7 in Santa Fe, New Mexico USA.

        Whether you are new to QFD or have many years of experience, this ISQFD will be an excellent opportunity to find out how QFD is used today in real projects, how much the method has advanced in recent years, innovative new tools / applications / research, as well as global trends in new product development and design quality.

        This and next few posts will introduce the exciting presentations that are planned for September 6–7. We hope you will join us.

        PS: This 2-day symposium is complimentary to the attendees of QFD Green Belt®, QFD Black Belt®, and Update courses.
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        Application of QFD within a Co-opetition Network of Public Transport Organizations
        (image - public transportation)This case study reports a QFD application in German public transportation systems. Companies that provide public transportation services are competitors as well as cooperative partners. In this setting of co-opetition (competitive cooperation), QFD is being applied with the vision of offering passengers (customers) seamless transportation services. This is an ongoing research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The presentation will discuss adaptations in application methods as well as lessons learned.
        Keywords: Public Transport, Co-opetition Network, Cluster Analysis, QFD Case Study



        Software Development Method Based on Twin Peaks Model with QFD
        (image - Twin Peaks Model)In software system development, it is important to analyze the stakeholders'  requirements and design the architecture. One proposed method for this is the twin peaks model which intertwines software requirements and architectures to achieve incremental development and speedy delivery. The researchers used QFD to clarify these relationships in hope to propose more efficient software development.
        Keywords: Software Development, Requirements, Architecture Design


        Modern QFD Application on a Supply Chain to Become Green
        (image - Green Supply Chain)Increasing concerns for resource scarcity and global pollution beseeches us for more environmentally friendly practice in supply chain management. This study is based on the voice of customer (VoC) data collected from the aluminum accessories industry located in Izmir, Turkey. Using the Modern QFD's Maximum Value Table, the VOC were deployed into technical characteristics that are essential for the greener practices of the sector's supply chain management. This project is going to provide the academicians an insight into usability of Modern QFD and to the industry professionals the methods for extending their green activities. 
        Keywords: Green Supply Chain Management, Modern QFD, Maximum Value Table, Aluminum sector

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        More Presentations ...

        Public QFD Courses at this symposium

        How to Attend



        17 February 2013

        Now’s the time!

        It’s that time of the year again, when we begin the call for papers for this year’s QFD Symposium.

        This year’s will be an International Symposium, taking place September 6–7 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It’s a great time to meet your peers of QFD as well as greet some of the gurus of quality excellence.

        As usual, there will be classes, discussions and demonstrations, and we’re looking for contributors who would like to show others how they’ve successfully applied QFD to their own professional (or personal) projects.

        If you have a project or paper, completed or in-progress, you’d like to share, please send an abstract now.

        (photo from Symposium on QFD)