Concurrent engineering case studies applying QFD models

In the report of Tsuda (1995). 2 QFD models, a "2-storied quality chart" and a "Parallel now quality chart", were proposed as tools for concurrent engineering product development driven by a matrix organization. In this report these models will be compared with 2 real cases from the Primera-Infiniti G20 Project, a major international project of a Japanese automobile company Nissan in the 1980s which was driven on the same basis of principal management concept as the 2 proposed models. The 2 models will be compared first with the product planning and development processes which wee focused on the European market requirements and then with the introduction processes into the Japanese market of this product. This report will follow these 2 cases and compare each development data, each development step etc. with the abstract elements and procedures in the 2 theoretical models. By this comparison the abstract elements and concepts of these models will be concretely explained by comparison with the real development cases. In this way understanding of these models including the concepts behind than will be facilitated The fact that the correlation between the 2 real development cases and the 2 theoretical models can clearly be shown proves that the Primera-Infiniti G20 Project and the 2 theoretical models really share the principal management concept. Besides, considering the fact that the Primera-Infiniti G20 Project was a very successful project, the 2 theoretical models can be regarded as good development tools.