Use of quality planning methods in optimizing welding wire quality characteristics

The quality of a product is given by the extent, to which the product meets customer requirements. It is generally accepted that the extent, to which the product meets such customer requirements, and, consequently, the resulting quality of the product itself, substantially depend on the early stages of the product lifecycle, i.e. on the design and development stages. Appropriate means for effective product quality planning can be found among quality management methods and tools. These methods are typically employed in engineering production and automotive industry. This paper focuses on exploring the potential of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) methods for use in metallurgical production, an industrial branch where they have not been commonly employed as yet.