Quality Planning and Assurance

4 Quality Assurance by Design

4.1 Design Review Process

4.1.1 Introduction to Design Review

Design Process and Review

Product and service design are creative, multi-step processes. In such a process, there are many requirements, steps, and tasks associated with the specific product or service to be designed, as they might pertain to a given discipline. A general design process for a complex product or service is composed of five phases, as shown in Figure 4.1. In the design phase, there are three major tasks: system design, detail design, and verification tests.

Figure 4.1 Design process in product or service development.

An initial design for a new product or service is rarely perfect, as any initial design is subject to the knowledge, skills, and efforts of designers, as well as resource constraints. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct what is called a design review in general. This general review includes checks on the intended functions, brainstorming activities, and trials for solutions of unforeseen problems, with the purpose of making adjustments to reach design goals.

The aim of a design review is to evaluate the design of a product; its major components, or a function thereof, against given design intents and requirements. Based on review and predefined requirements, one can gauge the design status, and determine the extent of a need to refine a design (or even ...