Enhancing design decision-making through development of proper transfer function in Design for Six Sigma framework

Transfer functions, one of the core components in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) which provide the needed relationships between design, process and materials parameters, and the Critical-to-Quality (CtQ characteristics) in the product and process development cycle. Transfer function provides a direct method for understanding and representing an overall product and process function. Transfer function also provides a strategy for customer voice cascade, function decomposition, physical modelling, and concept generation. The concept of transfer function is not new. However, the development of transfer function is not trivial and is a creative and challenging task. Developing a proper transfer function in DFSS framework will facilitate earlier decision-making and enhance the 'designing it right the first time'.