Total Quality Design: An Approach for Customer Satisfaction in Critical Advanced Technologies

Composites are prime examples of technology moving faster than the underlying science. Faced with increasing global competitiveness, the issues of high cost, product robustness and long lead times associated with product development are emerging in the forefront of problems facing emerging and existing performance‐critical industries, such as in the area of advanced materials. However, the mere use of the new paradigms or philosophies, such as concurrent engineering, is insufficient to guarantee successful completion of the product realization process (PRP). Planning for competitiveness and quality as an integral part of the programme goals and decision process is a key to success. It is essential that clear plans be developed and measurable attributes of performance be identified as early in the design process as possible. The approach described herein provides the framework for successful implementation of an integrated decision‐production system within the basic definition of Total Quality Management (TQM). Discusses the five elements critical to the success of a new technology or product: definition; requirements; benchmarking; concepts; and review.