One Size Does Not Fit All: Utilizing Quality Function Deployment for Course Design

Abstract

Workplace requirements continually evolve to keep pace with the developing global market. To meet ever-increasing standards, educational institutions have been investigating methods to prepare students for future employment. Course modifications should be carefully considered to meet the requirements of all stakeholders, including those of the students. The objective of this research was to provide students with a stronger overall learning experience that tailors the teaching methods to a student's individual learning preferences. A comprehensive survey was provided to an undergraduate class at Missouri University of Science and Technology. The survey documented the student's individuality when learning and made note of his or her expectations from the class. After documenting this information, quality function deployment, an organized approach to take the voice of the customer into the design of products and services, was used to modify the course design. The results indicated the implemented techniques and tools were beneficial to the students and helped their comprehension of the course material. The outcome provided students with an overall better learning experience while improving content retention and engagement.

• learning style
• motivation
• quality function deployment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie M. Ezzell

Julie Ezzell was a graduate research student working under the supervision of Elizabeth Cudney in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T). She received her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, master's degree in engineering management, and a certificate in project management from Missouri S&T. Her main research interests are utilizing quality tools to make improvements to the education system, evaluating student learning preferences, and inspiring self-directed learning. She maintains membership in the Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi, and Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

Elizabeth A. Cudney

Elizabeth Cudney is an associate professor in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T). She received her bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University, her master's of engineering in mechanical engineering, her MBA from the University of Hartford, and her doctorate in engineering management from the University of Missouri – Rolla. She is an ASEM Fellow and an ASQ Fellow. In 2010, Cudney was inducted into the International Academy for Quality. She received the 2008 ASQ A.V. Feigenbaum Medal and the 2006 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award. She has published six books and more than 55 journal papers. She is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence (CMQ/OE), and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB). She is a member of the ASEE, ASEM, ASQ, IIE, and the Japan Quality Engineering Society (JQES). Cudney can be reached by email at [email protected].

Julie A. Phelps

Julie Phelps has been an instructional designer, e-learning expert at Missouri University of Science and Technology since 2010. She supports faculty in the effective use of technology in the classroom as well as blended/online course development. She holds a master's degree in information and learning technologies from The University of Colorado-Denver and a bachelor's degree from The University of Missouri, Columbia. From 2001–2010, Phelps was an instructional specialist for the eMINTS National Center providing professional development to K-12 teachers throughout Missouri. Prior to eMINTS, she taught elementary grades in Missouri, Texas, and Colorado over a span of 17 years.

Glenn H. Mazur

Glenn Mazur is executive director of the QFD Institute, chair of the symposium on QFD, a retired University of Michigan College of Engineering adjunct lecturer on TQM, and a senior member of ASQ and the Japanese Society for Quality Control. Mazur convenes the ISO 16355 working group writing the QFD standard and is an Academician of the International Academy for Quality. He has been granted by the cofounder of QFD, Yoji Akao, the international Akao Prize and is the QFD Red Belt® (highest level), one of only two in North America.