Quality improvement of apartment projects using fuzzy-QFD approach: A case study in Vietnam

Abstract

In Vietnam, the customers are becoming increasingly choosy when purchasing apartments. Enhancing the quality of real estate products in the design phase may raise competitive advantage in the real estate market. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is an effective tool to improve the product quality and enhance competitive advantages in the market. The aim of this paper is to explore the applicability of QFD approach in enhancing the quality of a middle-grade apartment in the design phase. The seven-step procedure was used to develop the fuzzy-QFD system in the design phase of apartment projects. The study used a current apartment project as a case study to validate the approach. The customer's satisfaction and dissatisfaction on the current design was considered to determine design features a quality apartment meeting the customers' desires. The fuzzy numbers were used to rate the importance weightings of each customer requirement. The findings indicates that the balcony connected to the living room, the laundry with enough space for hanging the washing, and increasing the area of windows for natural lighting and ventilation are major customer desires influencing on their decisions to purchase an apartment in Vietnam. The proposed design solutions for enhancing the quality of the apartment can be used as a guide to focus on what the customer desires throughout the design phase. The results of this paper suggested that QFD can help investors, real estate companies and consultants to produce quality apartments at the design phase. Since Korea has emerged as the first largest foreign investor in Vietnam, the customer's requirements, technical solutions, and proposed design solutions may be valuable lessons for Korean investors, who would like to invest in real estate projects in Vietnam.

Where do People Interact in High-Rise Apartment Buildings? Exploring the Influence of Personal and Neighborhood Characteristics

“…These studies have focused on the importance of spatial, social and environmental aspects of the neighborhoods but not provided a detailed assessment of the relationship between personal characteristics and the characteristics of their living environments and the impact they have on social interaction. In addition, most of the recent studies on apartment buildings in Vietnam focused on the physical characteristics of the living environments including sustainable apartment design (energy efficiency, design and spatial structure) [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], apartment living and fire safety [ 24 , 25 ], housing satisfaction in apartment buildings and its correlates [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first empirical research to investigate factors that support social interaction among high-rise residents in Hanoi.…”

Análise da aplicação do método desdobramento da função qualidade “QFD” em serviços preventivos de polícia

“…• o limitado apoio e comprometimento gerencial somado ao restrito domínio das equipes sobre o método e a ausência de recursos financeiros para coleta de dados ( VAN LUU et al, 2009) Apesar de o método ter sua origem de aplicação no apoio às atividades de projeto de produto e processo produtivo, estudos mais recentes têm demonstrado novos e diversificados propósitos de aplicação. Essas novas aplicações são consequências da combinação do método QFD com as ferramentas supracitadas e têm contribuído para a ampliação do emprego tradicional do método na área de engenharia do produto.…”