What is the Kano Model?

Developed by Noriaki Kano in the 1980s, the Kano model allows a company to
classify its product’s features depending on the value they provide to their users.

In turn, this allows development teams to focus on optimizing the essential

features of a given product and also to recognize when certain features are
unnecessary or superfluous – and thus avoid wasting valuable time, money and
energy to create/maintain them.
Criteria HOPKIN Invacare MVP Reclining German
STANDARD Manual Wheelchair Electric
STEEL Wheelchair
WHEELCHAIR

operation Manual manual Electric

Use of manpower Use joystick to
to push or move move
by user
foldability Can be folded Can be folded into Can be folded into
compact size. compact size
Easily to carry and
keep
comfortability Non-paded seat Foam seat Has neck support
Foam seat
price Rm 250.00 Rm 550.00 Rm 2800.00
Discussion
From the table of comparison, I had listed down three different wheelchairs
with their characteristics.
For the first one, I had chosen Hopkin standard steel wheelchair. The operation
for this wheelchair is manual which is it needs the manpower to push it or move
itself by rotating the tyres. The wheelchair can be folded but not into compact
size. It also has a non-paded seat. The armrest is fixed. The price is the lowest
among all. It is affordable for all.

For the second one, I have choose Invacare MVP Manual Wheelchair. The
operation for this wheelchair is same as the first one. The wheelchair can be
folded into compact size and easy to carry or keep. It also has a foam seat. So
the user will be more comfortable when seat on it. adjustable-angle footplates
and footplate clamps provides a more durable platform.

For the third one, I have choose Reclining German Electric Wheelchair. The
operation for this wheelchair is using electric. The user use joystick to move.
The wheelchair can be folded into compact size and easy to carry or keep at
certain place. It also has a foam seat and has neck support. This wheelchair can
be easily lay down at few levels. The price is quite expensive than Invacare and
Hopkin but the specifications are reasonable because of the functionality
offered.
Conclusion
The Kano model is a tool that is used for “value-driven development”. “Value-
driven development” provides a way of prioritizing potential features for a new
product development based on how those features contribute to the overall
value that the product provides to the consumer or user of the product. The
Kano model is one model that is used for understanding how various potential
features contribute to the overall value provided by the product.
There are two dimensions of the Kano model. The first dimension is “Customer
Satisfaction” which indicates how satisfied a customer is as a result of
implementing (or not implementing) a particular feature and is ranked as
follows:

The next dimension is “Functionality” which indicates how much of the

functionality of that feature has been provided and is ranked as follows:

Conclusion
In the present times, there is an increasing demand on the firms to
come out with newer products more quickly and more frequently. The
time gap between the conception of an idea and the final product is
under severe pressure. This phenomenon has caused a shift from post
production quality control to design based quality control where the
defects in the first place are prevented rather than repairing.
Companies are now gaining by adopting Design for Six Sigma
(DFSS) combined with Quality Function Deployment (QFD). The
information obtained from the Kano Model Analysis, specifically
regarding performance and excitement attributes, provides valuable
input for the Quality Function Deployment process (Model.doc).
Further, the Kano Model becomes an essential tool when working on
a Six Sigma project focusing on customer satisfaction.