Critical to quality (CTQ) is the quality of a product or service in the eyes of the voice of the customer (VOC).

Use: It is a good idea to identify the critical to quality parameters as they relate to what is important to the customer at large. It is this author’s opinion that two things should be monitored.

1.) the end-product parameters and 2.) the associated process parameters that determine the quality of the end-product parameters that are important to the customer. Once these parameters are identified, the Six Sigma practitioner will want to monitor, control and continuously improve upon these parameters.

Six Sigma Terminology