Quality function deployment in design/build projects

Abstract

In the manufacturing sector, companies have successfully applied concurrent engineering tools, including Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to determine customers' needs for the design at its early stages of development. However, despite its success stories in other industries, QFD has been applied only sparingly in the construction industry. The design/build (D/B) contractor, who bears both design and construction responsibilities, would find the QFD methodology useful. This paper examines the awareness and applicability of QFD methodology in D/B contracts. The research looks into the benefits, relevance, and problems in the application of QFD in D/B contracts. A qualitative approach in the form of in-depth interviews with experienced contractors involved in D/B contracts was carried out. The results suggest that, generally, D/B contractors could appreciate the merits of the QFD system. However, the decisions for implementation of QFD by the contractors were subjected to the "push" and "pull" factors that may vary from one organization to another.