Richard Zultner's Linkedin Analytics

Richard has used Quality Function Deployment (QFD) since its introduction to the US in the mid-1980s. He has been trained by Dr. Yoji Akao and Bob King in this quality system for assuring customer satisfaction. He received the International Akao QFD Prize in 1998 for his work in Software QFD, and was selected as one of only two QFD Red Belts(R) (highest level) in 2000. Richard began using Critical Chain Project Management (CC PM) for software projects in 1997 and has been trained by Dr. Eli Goldratt and Tony Rizzo in this application of Theory of Constraints to project management. He also taught QFD and CC PM at the graduate level as an Adjunct Professor at the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens University. He is a "Jonah" in Theory of Constraints, and is a certified ToC ICO Expert in Critical Chain Project Management and a lifetime member of the ToC ICO. Richard was a student of Dr. W. Edwards Deming from 1985 to 1993, and began learning and applying powerful process improvement methods to software processes in 1985. He pioneered the application of statistical process control (SPC) for software process improvement in the late 1980's. As a member of the ASQ Software Division, he led the committee that developed the Software Quality Engineer (SQE) certification. He is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and has received intensive training in Lean methods from senior Toyota lean experts. Specialties: QFD (Quality Function Deployment) Red Belt(R) - highest level Kano Model applications Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for evaluation, selection, and prioritization Policy Deployment / Hoshin Planning / Strategic QFD Software Process Improvement using statistical process control (SPC) Theory of Constraints (ToC) and Critical Chain Project Management (CC PM) The Deming Way to Software Quality Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) for software development Lean Six Sigma for IT