Integrating QFD and TRIZ for the Development of a Safe and Sustainable Lunch Box Design

Abstract

This study addresses the critical need to design a safe and functional food storage solution by re-engineering a lunch box product based on consumer requirements. The research problem centers on the prevalent use of harmful materials like BPA and lead in existing products, which poses health risks to users. Our methodology combines Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) to tackle this issue. QFD was used to transform detailed customer needs, identified through a Voice of Customer (VOC) survey, into specific technical specifications. The resulting House of Quality (HoQ) revealed two primary contradictions: one between ensuring food-grade material safety and offering a product warranty, and another between using high-quality, safe materials and maintaining an affordable price. To resolve these conflicts, TRIZ principles, specifically Cheap Short-Living Objects and Composite Materials, were applied. This approach led to a product design that is not only robust and practical, with features such as high-density seals and segregated compartments, but also scientifically sound in its use of safe materials. The findings demonstrate a successful integration of market needs and creative problem-solving to develop a product that is both commercially viable and fundamentally safer for consumers.