4 System Flowdown Using Enhanced QFD

In defense/aerospace systems engineering the requirements are usually flowed down to lower, more detailed system levels directly as a self-contained process. Commercial systems engineering takes a more eclectic view of the flowdown process. Here we set forth the complete commercial system flowdown process, which has two primary features: (A) a zigzag path through requirements, concepts, and improvement at system level N, which is then repeated at level N+1, and (B) three sources for requirements at level N: (1) higher-level requirements from level N-1, (2) the voices of external stakeholders (VOES) at level N, and (3) amplifications of the functions at level N. Thus, this approach expands on the narrow flowdown of requirements by integrating it with the VOES and functional analysis, and integrating all of requirements with concept selection and improvement. This is done by utilizing QFD, functional analysis and amplification, and Pugh concept selection. This process when implemented effectively provides competitive advantage in the global commercial competitive markets.