Shigekazu Ishihara
Dept. of Kansei Design, College of Psychological Science, Hiroshima International University, Japan
Toshio Tsuchiya
Yamaguchi University of Human Welfare and Culture, and User Science Institute, Kyushu University, Japan
Mitsuo Nagamachi
Dept. of Communication, College of Psychological Science, HIU, Japan
Keiko Ishihara
Dept. of Kansei Design, College of Psychological Science, HIU, Japan
Tatsuo Nishino
Faculty of Economics, Shimonoseki City University, Japan
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Published in: 10th QMOD Conference. Quality Management and Organiqatinal Development. Our Dreams of Excellence; 18-20 June; 2007 in Helsingborg; Sweden
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 26:19, p.
Published: 2008-02-15
ISBN:
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
In a firm; each division has own language. Divisions relate to product development such as top management; merchandising; marketing research; product R&D; product designers; manufacturing; each has different languages based on their different background knowledge. Hence; they cannot discuss each other with common language on recognition; problems and improvements on their products. Consequently; they producing mediocre products and lose the competitive strength.
Kansei engineering provides objective analyzed results through Kansei evaluation experiments and multivariate analyses. With the analyzing results; we; Kansei engineers can provide a common language and can establish common understanding between divisions. Lively discussions between divisions can be promoted based on knowledge sharing; process of problem recognition. Hence; their problem solving is empowered. All of these contribute to TQM.
The contributions of Kansei engineering in TQM aspect are well known for many companies those introduced KE. Some companies have been introducing KE to making design guidebooks for the aim of knowledge sharing.
Although of many practical examples and successful applications; we had not conducted study to have real time observation on decision-making; knowledge sharing; and catalytic aspect of KE.
In this study; we had conducted product design experiment involving Swedish and Japanese team of participant; those teams have never met before. On the design process; we observed when and how Internet Kansei engineering system is used and how it works as a catalyst for innovative ideas.
