Pilot Study of Quality Function Deployment in Construction Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 129, Issue 3
Abstract
Quality function deployment (QFD) is a process that has been used for managing the development of new manufactured products. In this process, both spoken and unspoken needs of the customers are determined, prioritized, and translated to design parameters. Such design parameters are assigned specific target values and are frequently checked against customers’ needs throughout the development cycle to ensure customers’ satisfaction with the end product. This paper describes a pilot study in which QFD was implemented in a design-construction project. The project scope involved the preparation of a conceptual design for a modern large-size classroom for college students. The design was intended to become a model for the university’s future classrooms. The study proved that QFD could be successfully adopted in engineering-construction projects. However, the study identified a number of implementation challenges. In addition, more applications are necessary to take the process throughout the full project delivery cycle, as the pilot study involved only the preliminary engineering and conceptual design phase.
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Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 9, 2001
Accepted: Apr 9, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
Published in print: Jun 2003
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