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CTQ (Critical to Quality) Tree is used to drill down to a more concrete project goal. It starts with wider project goal and works downwards to identify “Critical” factors that is required in achieving the goal. In simple words drill down generic goal, identify specific and measurable necessities to improve performance. It translates customer needs to Meaningful, Measurable, and Actionable metrics. Approach: Step 1: Identify Critical Needs "What is critical for this product or service?" Brainstorm needs with key stakeholders Step 2: Identify Quality Requirements Identify the specific quality drivers Identify all the requirements that are important Step 3: Identify Performance Requirements Identify the measurable performance requirements Points to remember before getting in CTQ tree. Identify customers Collect Voice of Customer data Analyze VoC data Prepare a list of CTQs Choose one CTQ and prepare a CTQ tree only for that CTQ. Components of CTQ Tree: Need it is the origin of CTQ tree, and it highlights the customer requirements Driver Drivers are the parameters on which a customer judges the quality of product. Requirements These are the measurable performance specifications that have to be met by drivers to satisfy customers. In order to make an effective and efficient CTQ tree, it is necessary to identify all the above components perfectly. Below is an example of CTQ drill down for a Good Coffee Benefits of CTQ: It highlights any weak areas in an organization where performance is below standard and helps in root cause analysis. It helps to identify private needs of the individual customer and recognize measurable performance requirements needed for specific customer’s satisfaction. Helps in the quality improvement of a product or service. Do’s while doing CTQ drilldown: Have Specific and measurable CTQs. Reflect input from primary and secondary customers (direct and indirect or stakeholders). Discuss business value of capturing and reporting a specific metric vs. cost (time and effort) of capturing that data. Delineate between metrics that exist currently vs. recommendations. For recommended metrics, discuss how they will be measured and reported. If a CTQ has no clear quantitative metric, discuss alternative ways of measurement (qualitative, other indicators). Common CTQ Errors: Missing elements of Speed, Quality, Cost, or Risk Metrics do not reflect measurement of the process product or outcome Metrics do not have solid Operational Definitions Metrics do not demonstrate how it is calculated Metrics are not at the appropriate level of detail Information in artifacts is not consistent Artifact created individually without consultation Artifact was created but no analysis was conducted CTQ helps to understand the customer’s general requirements in more specific terms.