Smart Product Design Process through the Implementation of a Fuzzy Kano-AHP-DEMATEL-QFD Approach

Product design has become a critical process for the healthcare technology industry, given the ever-changing demands, vague customer requirements, and interrelations among design criteria. This paper proposed a novel integration of fuzzy Kano, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to translate customer needs into product characteristics and prioritize design alternatives considering interdependence and vagueness. First, the customer requirements were established. Second, the fuzzy KANO was applied to calculate the impact of each requirement, often vague, on customer satisfaction. Third, design alternatives were defined, while the requirements’ weights were calculated using AHP. DEMATEL was later implemented for evaluating the interdependence among alternatives. Finally, QFD was employed to select the best design. A hip replacement surgery aid device for elderly people was used for validation. In this case, collateral issues were the most important requirement, while code change was the best-ranked design.