Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Practice Exam

What is the primary goal of quality function deployment?

1. To reduce production costs.

2. To identify and exceed customer requirements through design.

3. To standardize products across different markets.

4. To increase the speed of product delivery.

The correct answer is: To identify and exceed customer requirements through design.

The primary goal of quality function deployment (QFD) is to identify and exceed customer requirements through design. This approach provides a structured method for translating customer needs and expectations into specific engineering and design requirements. By focusing on understanding what customers value most, organizations can ensure that their products are not only meeting but ideally surpassing these expectations. This process starts by gathering customer input, which is then prioritized and translated into relevant technical specifications. The outcome is a product that is more likely to satisfy market demands and foster customer loyalty. QFD is integral to product development, as it aligns the design process with customer desires, effectively bridging the gap between what customers want and how products are designed. In contrast, the other options do not capture the essence of QFD. While reducing production costs, standardizing products, and increasing delivery speed can be important goals within supply chain management and product development, they do not directly relate to the foundational purpose of QFD. The core focus remains on understanding and meeting customer needs, making B the correct choice.