Functional priorities in eco-design-quality function deployment, value analysis, and functional profile

摘要

QFD is possible to use in eco-design, investigating customer requirements. The method is usually based on customer inquiries, but in fact customers can only have opinions on already existing products. QFD is therefore not useable until loop 2 in the product development process. These facts indicate that only product improvements can be made and that the link to eco-design is weak since the method only relies on the voice of the customer. To reach into early phases of product development methods need to be more abstract and qualitative. However, results from quantitative, eco-industrial methods usually require large amounts of time and information to understand and compile. Turning these quantitative methods into simpler ones could reduce their reliability and correctness, since the information in early design phases is vague and imprecise. The amount of time and information required for achieving certainty makes quantitative methods less utilisable in the early phases of design. Qualitative measures on the other hand are less time consuming and information-intensive, however they are hard to apply strictly. VA, having a qualitative approach form the basis for FP. FP expands representation of products' functional description within eco-industrial methods and thereby improves the balance the environmental "cost" side and the functional "income" side, see fig1. Furthermore, the concept provides a compass bearing, showing the direction to focus on, rather than being overly precise. Moreover, FP is aiming at quick and easy understanding and application by the designers themselves, without the need for consulting environmental experts. The concept is therefore possible to use in the first loop of designing.