QFD is a tool to translate consumer needs and expectations into precise technical requirements for each phase of product development. In practice, the stages that are often applied to new product development in the food industry are house of quality. HoQ is the first matrix of the QFD method, there are sections/rooms in a house :
1. WHAT: voice of customer data collection
2. HOW: product requirements, product specifications
3. Roof: correlation matrix, the relationship of each specified HOW
4. Relationship matrix: the main space, illustrating the relationship and strength of the relationship between customer requirements and product specifications.
5. TARGET: how much, the size of each product requirement, must be measurable and objective.
- Feasibility Study
Feasibility will assist manufacturers using feasibility matrix to evaluate projects which will be successful and possibly run well into the future. There are many types of feasibility study, which are technical feasibility, economic feasibility, legal feasibility, operational feasibility, and scheduling feasibility.
- Market Testing & Commercialization
Market testing and commercialization are important stages in the NPD in the food industry which aim to test and launch new products to the market by optimizing the success rate and reducing the risk of failure. The steps that can be taken are:
1. Determine the objectives and methods of market testing
2. Determine product samples, packaging, advertisements, and distribution strategies to be used in market testing.
3. Determine the location, duration, sample size, and market testing data analysis techniques.