Critical to Quality
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A method to translate customer needs into measurable product/service characteristics: CTQ tree construction steps: 1. Identify customers - clarify internal and external customers 2. Collect VOC (Voice of Customer) - obtain customer needs 3. Translate into CTQs - convert vague needs into specific, measurable quality characteristics 4. Set specifications - define target values and tolerance ranges for CTQs CTQ characteristics: - Measurable - Actionable - Directly linked to customer needs
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
From customer to metrics, precise focus. CTQ analysis helps teams turn abstract customer needs into actionable metrics.
Anchor fast decisions
In Six Sigma, it is a bridging method that translates the "Voice of the Customer (VOC)" into "Critical to Quality (CTQ)" characteristics. Core assumption: vague customer needs must be converted into measurable, actionable metrics to be improved. The CTQ tree decomposes top-down until each leaf node is quantifiable and manageable.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/5Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_to_qualityverified
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