ABSTRACT
The first formal use of quality function deployment (QFD) can be traced to the Kobe Shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Japan, in 1972. In 1977, Toyota began using QFD extensively. It wasn’t until 1983 that QFD was introduced to U.S. companies. In 1983, Ford and several supplier companies went to Japan and had several meetings with Dr. Ishikawa and other member of the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers. It was at these meetings that the power of QFD was recognized. In 1984, Dr. D. Clausing, then of Xerox, introduced the operating mechanism of QFD to Ford and its supplier companies. Also in 1984, the American Supplier Institute organized three Japanese study missions for several U.S. supplier companies. The purpose of the study missions was to review Toyota supplier QFD case studies, which in turn would aid in the transfer of the technique to U.S. industries. The study missions took place in December 1984, June 1985, and April 1986. It was during the last study mission that two of the supplier companies, Budd Company and Kelsey Hayes, presented the first U.S. QFD case studies. In 1987, Ford and General Motors began QFD training in their plants. Since that time, QFD has been studied and implemented by companies all across the United States.
