Adaptation of quality function deployment for process reinvention in SMEs

Walter W.C. Chung and Jimmy J.F. Pak

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2001, vol. 3, issue 4/5, 393-406

Abstract: This paper proposes an approach for Small Manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs) to reinvent their manufacturing processes. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) as a best practice has been benefiting many leading manufacturers in Japan and the USA. However, there are still many SMEs, such as those in Hong Kong, having difficulty in adopting best practice to enhance their competitiveness in the world market. It is argued that organisational innovations could be made when a team of voluntary workers is assembled to share their experiences. It is understood that people involved may not be willing to work together due to conflicting interests. This paper articulates the key roles and activities for a successful industrial and academic collaboration to support action learning through QFD adaptation. Preliminary results indicate that this innovative approach has been validated with a case study in a local SME and it should be able to be replicated in another reference setting.

Keywords: FMEA; innovation; Quality Function Deployment; SMEs; workflow analysis. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=1419 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijmtma:v:3:y:2001:i:4/5:p:393-406

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().