Keeping an Eye on the Big Picture

[weberr]

We use QFD, or quality function deployment, to boil down what is the necessary attributes & scoring opportunities versus the robot characteristics. Check out our web page and downloadable info:

http://www.theflyingtoasters.org/#!__qfd

This is usually done the monday night after kick off, and by the end we know what is the most important relationships needed to have a successful robot. Then our team goes to work prototyping, coming up with solutions, doing research, etc. and by the following week (the next monday) we check any solutions back to the QFD and rank them using the QFD. So in essence, the QFD becomes our anchor to keep the whole team focused and moving in the right direction.

The revision we are looking to incorporate this year in our QFD is the addition of of a "Probable Scoring Rate" that takes in consideration time versus point earned. We are still in the development stage on this aspect. Stay Tuned.

For those who do not know what QFD is, it is a way that major corporation use to address customer concerns, product details, manufacturing processes, etc. so that the end result is "built in quality" for the final product. Car companies have used this process to achieve JD Power & Associates awards and thus more market share (and customer satisfaction).