Title: A systematic method for mapping customer requirements to quality characteristics in product lifecycle

Authors: M-Q. Wang, Y-S. Ma

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, 4-9 Mech Engn Bldg, Edmonton T6G 2G8, Canada

Abstract: This paper presents a fundamental research on customer requirements modelling and propagation throughout the whole product development lifecycle. A theoretical mapping model, from customer requirements to quality characteristics, is established. It covers three processes, i.e., the qualification and classification of customer requirements, the generation and transformation of product quality characteristics, and product quality characteristics optimisation. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) approach was adopted to establish the weights of different customer requirements and product quality characteristics. Intra- and inter-relations for customer requirements and quality characteristics are modelled. Matching and conflict-resolving algorithms are proposed. A case study is also given.

Keywords: product quality characteristics; customer requirements modelling; product design; zero-one goal programming; ZOGP; mapping; analysis; analytic network process; ANP; product development; product lifecycle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2007.016313

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.229 - 237

Published online: 16 Dec 2007 *

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