Quality function deployment (QFD) is a method to translate customer needs into technical requirements for new product development. It uses a "house of quality" diagram to relate customer needs with engineering specifications. QFD was developed in Japan in 1966 and helps prioritize product characteristics based on customer feedback to guide design and testing. It has been applied to many industries and is part of the ISO 9000 quality standard. Benefits include improved customer satisfaction, production efficiency, and decision making through a systematic process of capturing the voice of the customer.