Design quality: A key factor to improve the product quality in international production networks

Abstract

As the result of the broken-up value chain of the world, design becomes an independent commodity. Goods often are designed in one company and produced in another company. Although product is shaped in manufacturing companies of supply chain, design quality is the key sticking-point for product quality. Therefore, finished goods quality lies on the quality of Design-Manufacturing Chain. This paper defines Design-Manufacturing Chain Quality Management (D-MCQM), analyses poor quality of design and manufacturing and the controllable factor and noise factor for quality stability. Furthermore, the figure and formula are presented for the leverage relationship among design quality, manufacturing quality and product quality. © 2007 International Federation for Information Processing.