What is DFSS and How does Quality during Design Relate?

We explore the history, philosophy, and methodology of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and explore how it relates to Quality during Design (hint: they’re not the same).

Six Sigma

We dissect the acronyms DMAIC and DMADV, revealing how these methodologies are blueprints for achieving excellence. From statistics to Motorola’s legendary quality standards and other history of six sigma, you’ll begin to see how DFSS may relate with your organization’s current design development processes.

Quality during Design

Quality during Design is not DFSS. It can be part of DFSS or any other product development process. Quality during Design is a philosophy that emphasizes the benefits of cross-functional team involvement and a methodology that uses quality tools to refine design concepts early on. Quality tools bridge the gap between team communication and innovative concept development. We review why skipping the crucial steps of questioning and investigating can lead to missed opportunities.

As we navigate through the essential stages of product development, we invite you to join us on this enlightening path to creating impactful and high-quality solutions that stand the test of time—and the marketplace.

Through Quality during Design, Dianna emphasizes the need to linger in the problem space a bit longer for a comprehensive understanding of user needs before transitioning to the solution space. This approach advocates for utilizing quality tools during the design phase to foster robust communication and innovative concept development. The podcast accentuates that neglecting the critical steps of questioning and investigating can lead to lost opportunities in creating products that resonate deeply with consumers.

The episode encourages listeners to reassess their current design development processes, considering how they might align with or diverge from the principles of Design for Six Sigma and Quality during Design. It invites introspection into how concepts are communicated and developed within teams and the role quality tools play in facilitating these discussions.