Quality Function Deployment for Buildable and Sustainable Construction

This book presents the implementation of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) in the construction industry as a tool to assist building designers to achieve optimal decisions for external envelope systems with sustainable and buildable design goals. Specifically, the book integrates special features into the conventional QFD tool to enhance its performance. These features include a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method, fuzzy consensus scheme, and Knowledge Management System (KMS). This integration results in a more robust decision support tool presented in this book known as the Knowledge-based Decision Support System QFD (KBDSS-QFD) tool. As an example, the KBDSS-QFD tool is used for the assessment of building envelope materials and designs of high-rise residential buildings in Singapore in the early design stage. This book serves to provide the reader with a conceptual framework for understanding the development of the KBDSS-QFD tool. The framework is presented in a generalized form so that it benefits building professionals, decision makers, analysts, academics and researchers when they adopt the findings in the proposed book as guiding principles to achieve more optimal solutions in an efficient and collegial manner.

Dr. Natee Singhaputtangkul is presently a Lecturer in Built Environment, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Australia. He holds a PhD degree in Project Management from the National University of Singapore with an education background in Engineering. He possesses several years of working experience as a Business Analyst, Engineer and Project Manager. He has also published papers in various leading international peer-reviewed journals. His research interest covers topics such as Quality Function Deployment (QFD), construction technology, decision support system, and procurement management.

Dr. Low Sui Pheng is presently Professor of Building in the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore where he has previously served as Head and Vice-Dean. He teaches construction project management and has published, researched and consulted extensively both in Singapore and overseas. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, he holds a DSc degree from the University of Birmingham and a PhD degree from University College London. He currently serves as Director for the Centre for Project Management and Construction Law in NUS.

Dr. Evelyn Teo is presently Associate Professor of Building in the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore where she has previously served as Programme Director for the Bachelor of Science programme in Project and Facilities Management and Director of External Affairs. She has many years of professional experience in the construction industry and has participated in building research works in Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. She currently serves as Co-Director for the NUS Centre of Excellence in Building Information Modelling (BIM).