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(DFSS tool that is used once) tool structures and advanced conceptual tools. The
DFSS principles and structure should motivate design teams to provide business and
customers with a substantial return on their design investment.
8.A.1 APPENDIX 8.A (Shenvi, 2008)
8.A.1.1 Design of DivX DVD Player Using DIDOVM Process
New product or service introduction in the software arena, be it embedded or other-
wise, is characterized by an increasing need to get designs right the first time. In areas
such as consumer electronics (DVD players, iPhones, cell phones, etc.) or household
appliances (microwave ovens, refrigerators, etc.), the margin on a product often is
low, but the sale quantity often is in the order of thousands, if not millions. Hence,
it is all the more important to get the desired product quality out the very first time
because the cost of recalls and re-work if at all possible often ends up being a losing
proposition.
The number of research papers in the public domain on the benefits of software Six
Sigma and software DFSS as practiced by industry is limited as companies continue
to view Six Sigma as a differentiator in the marketplace. In addition, companies
often use Six Sigma in conjunction with Lean practices and do not wish to divulge
specifics for competition reasons. The DivX DVD DFSS player case study is an
example.
The case study outlines in the following discussion illustrates at a high level the
application of DFSS to the DivX DVD player. The intent here is not to make the
reader an expert but to provide a flavor and to pave the way for subsequent chapters.
The case follows DIDOVM: Define-Identify-Design-Optimize-Verify-Monitor
methodology.
8.A.2
DIDOVM PHASE: DEFINE
This phase is characterized by the definition of the problem (CONQ reduction), as
shown in Figure 8.4. Discovery of the needs of the customer constitutes the prime
focus in this phase where both the development and product management community
folks are involved. From a software development cycle standpoint, VOC information
typically is a part of the requirement specifications and includes information based
on marketing intelligence, customer interviews, and surveys.
Software artifacts to this phase include competitive advances and technology road
maps. Tools such as the cause-and-effect matrix, QFD, risk-benefit matrix, and Kano
analysis are used to provide shape to “fuzzy” requirements that are translated and
prioritized into critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics to aid further design.
QFD (a.k.a. house of quality) is among the most often used tool in most DFSS
strategies. Quite often project teams use the Kano model to start with and proceed
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