Concurrent design method for developing a new product

A concurrent customer-oriented design method for developing a new product is addressed in this article. The design of a secure music-toy for children aged under seven is taken as a case study to specify the implementation procedures of this method. The qualitative design parameters and design criteria are first deployed with the quality function deployment and failure mode and effect analysis technologies and then quantified with the analytic hierarchy process technology to get the best design targets with which the detail design is completed. The design for assembly technology is also used to analyze the assembly performance and the costs of design alternatives. In this manner, a product that more nearly fits the consumer needs and is of higher competitiveness can be designed and the total quality is managed after the design process has been completed. Relevance to industry: Developing a high quality and low cost product is an important policy of an enterprise in today's highly competitive marketplace. To reach this objective, a systematically transparent method by integrating several techniques is proposed in this study. With this systematic methodology, a high quality and low cost product that more fits the consumer needs is to be designed and consequently the competitiveness of the product is improved.