Which of the following tools is used extensively in quality function deployment (QFD)?

Question

Options

• AAffinity diagram
• BMatrix diagram
• CCause and effect diagram
• DActivity network diagram

• A
  2% (1)
• B
  94% (50)
• C
  4% (2)

Explanation

Matrix diagrams are the backbone of QFD because the methodology's primary output - the House of Quality - is itself a matrix that maps customer requirements (the "WHATs") against design/engineering characteristics (the "HOWs"), with relationship symbols filling the cells to show how well each characteristic addresses each requirement.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A. Affinity diagram: Used for grouping brainstormed ideas into themes - useful in early voice-of-customer gathering, but not the defining QFD tool.
• C. Cause and effect diagram: A root cause analysis tool (fishbone/Ishikawa); it diagnoses why problems occur, not how to translate requirements into design specs.
• D. Activity network diagram: A project scheduling tool (PERT/CPM style); it manages task sequencing and timelines, entirely unrelated to QFD.

Memory tip: QFD's signature deliverable is called the "House of Quality" - and a house has a grid-like structure, just like a matrix. If you remember that QFD builds a "house," you'll remember the tool is a matrix diagram.

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