Factors and procedures to determine quality in product design for competivity

The influence of the design quality on product competivity takes place throughout the stages of its life-cycle. This work deals with a systematic approach in order to relate the product design quality to enterprise competitivity by means of the influential factors in that relation, seeking to emphasize its importance. The different ways available to aggregate quality are discussed aiming to orientate the teamwork organization in product design environments. The conceptual phase of the product design is emphasized as the focus of the efforts to qualify the product.