Quality Improvement at the Design Stage- A Cyclic Incremental Approach

Abstract

Quality control based on inspection and segregation is uneconomical and inefficient. To be effective, quality needs to be considered and planned at the product design stage. In this article we put what seems like detailed problem solving, troubleshooting and statistical experimental design work into the larger context of the design and product development process. To do this we have developed a conceptual model for the design process based on the idea of cyclic incremental improvement.