Analysis of quality management requirements for product design in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Abstract

The use of a quality management approach in the product design/development process is to control and monitor the design activities to improve the consistency of design, and further help to produce quality products that meet the customer needs. This is of particular importance to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their natural constraints. The aim of this study has been firstly to examine relationship between the ISO 9000 approach and the Quality Award Business Excellence Models to see to what extent they can be applied in the SMEs. Secondly, several different techniques including metrics of the new view of value engineering using a design process "model" as framework were developed theoretically and applied in practical terms during the product design process to improve the efficiency of quality management on design for the SMEs. The conclusions are that, in the case of the ISO 9000 approach and the Models, it is appropriate for the SMEs to use in order to maintain competitiveness provided they are considered as process management disciplines. The concept of the new view of value engineering can be widely and consistently used to facilitate the generation process of design efficiency for the SMEs through a two-level of validation processes including a checklist. Such concept can only be fulfilled in practice with the positive recognition that achieving high worth instead of high value for the stages in the design process is a key factor.