Applying QFD in the Design Process of a Comfortable and Sensible Brassiere for Middle Aged Women

The purpose of this study was to develop a design process for a functional and sensible brassiere for muddle - aged women. As a methodology, an engineering design process QFD (Quality Function Deployment) was adopted to translate the consumer's needs into product design parameters. the customer needs for the wear comfort of brassieres were extracted from a survey of 100 women aged 30 - 40. To select which items were critical and which could be traded off for other attributed or benefits. the importance ratings for the customer needs were determined. Customer needs were translated into technical language by various physical test methods and wear tests. The customer competitive assessment was generated by wear tests of 10 commercial brassieres under controlled environmental conditions of 28${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$, 65${\pm}$3% RH. The relationship matrix between the customer needs and the means of delivering the needs was developed. Using the QFD methodology, design elements for developing a brassiere for middle-aged women could be analyzed and organized efficiently.