The House of Quality (HOQ) is a product planning matrix used to show how customer requirements relate directly to the ways and methods companies can use to achieve those requirements. It resembles the outline of a house and is created using technical and competitive benchmarking data. The HOQ is considered the primary tool during quality function deployment (QFD) to facilitate group decision-making.
Here's how the sections of the House of Quality correspond to different aspects:
* Section 1: This is the large rectangle at the center bottom. It represents customer requirements or needs.
* Section 2: Located to the right of section 1, this area contains the planning matrix. It lists market research and strategic planning, linking customer requirements to specific design elements and technical specifications.
* Section 3: A square attached to the top side of section 1, it represents technical benchmarking data. It assesses how well both your organization and competitors fulfill customer needs in terms of design requirements.
* Section 4: Another square, smaller than section 3, attached to its top side. It represents competitive benchmarking, comparing your company against leading competitors.
* Section 5: Forms an upward-pointing triangle attached to the top side of section 4. It reflects conflict resolution among product requirements.
* Section 6: A long rectangle extending from the left side of section 1 and under sections 3 and 4. It represents the technical specifications and design elements needed to meet customer requirements.
In summary, the planning matrix for market research and strategic planning is found in Section 2 of the House of Quality.
References: 1: ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence

When selecting an internal quality auditor, it is crucial that the individual is independent from the functional area being audited. Independence ensures that the auditor can objectively assess processes, procedures, and compliance without any bias or conflict of interest. An auditor who is part of the same functional area may be influenced by personal relationships, organizational politics, or familiarity with the processes, which could compromise the integrity of the audit. Therefore, independence is a fundamental criterion for effective internal auditing. It allows the auditor to provide unbiased assessments and recommendations for improvement12.
References:
ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) Body of Knowledge (BoK) 3.
ASQ CMQ/OE Certification Insert 2.