First Edition Dated September, 2000 40
design review meetings with the customer based on some pre-set
contractually specified dates. This process can be a very hit and miss, and
rarely delivers the best design to meet performance and cost targets.
The best design solution will occur through continual communication between
customers and suppliers. Suppliers generally have unique knowledge and
experience that are critical to the best design solution. That knowledge and
experience can affect the product and process design at all levels to positively
influence performance and cost measures. On the other hand, customers
generally hold critical knowledge about requirements that, when understood
clearly, can ensure success in meeting the product and process design
targets.
To meet this requirement, customers and suppliers are required to
communicate and coordinate their product and process design information on
a regular basis. The minimum requirement for a company is to meet this
requirement only on contracts for products or processes for which this
requirement is called out. But companies that use this concept more broadly
will see the value of investing more time up front to gain a larger return later in
the manufacture of products. The goal for companies is not just to meet the
minimum requirement on certain strategic products and processes, but to use
this concept on all the products and processes they design to reduce cost,
cycle time and defects, while improving quality and product performance.
Section 4.5.2 Customer requirements shall be determined and
key characteristics identified using a top down approach,
beginning with a deliverable end item.
In almost every design requirement there is a variation-dependant attribute or
key characteristic that must be identified and controlled, either by robust
design or process control. It is critical that a process be put in place to obtain
end item requirements from all potential customers, so that these variation-
sensitive elements can be identified.
Obtained requirements must be translated to and documented in the product
and process definitions. Where variation from nominal is deemed to have a
major impact on a customer requirement, the affected attribute or feature is to
be identified as a key characteristic in the product definition. Customer
requirements and the resultant key characteristics must be flowed down to
the level where they can best be addressed and controlled.
