QFD Akao Prize® — recognizing excellence in practice & substantial contribution to advancement

Convinced that the substantial evolution and contribution of QFD advancement worldwide merited recognition of those who had made it possible, Dr. Yoji Akao, Ph.D., a co-founder of QFD methodology, agreed in 1996 to the creation of a prize in his honor.

The Akao Prize® is administered by the QFD Institute, in accordance with the wishes of late Dr. Akao. Today the Akao Prize® is awarded to individuals around the world who have demonstrated excellence in their practice and made substantial contributions to the evolution and advancement of QFD on a global level.

Taken into consideration are advanced research, innovation, excellence in practical applications, leadership in international collaborations pertaining to QFD and ISO 16355, and continual skills upgrading through QFD Certificates training, as well as notable personal commitment and service to the international QFD community.

Selection follows the model of the Deming Prize, whereby candidates are proposed by a committee of Dr. Akao, the Executive Director of the QFD Institute, and past Prize recipients. The Akao Prize® is presented by Dr. Akao and the Executive Director of the QFD Institute at the International Symposium on QFD.

Past Recipients

Click the YEAR panel below, to see the past recipients.

  • Catherine Y. P. Chan, Ph.D., QFD Black Belt® (Hong Kong)

  • Wei Xiong (China)

  • Kim Stansifield, Ph.D., QFD Black Belt® (United Kingdom)

  • Dennis J. Frankos, QFD Black Belt® (USA)

  • Jaroslav Machan, Ph.D. (Czech Republic)

  • Sixten Schochert, Dipl. Wirt.-Inf. (Germany)
    Yoshimichi Watanabe, Ph.D. (Japan)

  • Jutta Saatweber, Dipl.-Ing. (Germany)

  • Carey W. Hepler, QFD Black Belt® (USA)

  • Wolfram Pietsch, Ph.D. (Germany)

  • Akira Takayanagi (Japan)

  • Thomas Saaty, Ph.D. (USA)

  • Veronica Gonzalez Bosch, QFD Black Belt® (Mexico)
    Toshiyuki Mochimoto, Ph.D. (Japan)

  • Kouji Tanaka (Japan)

  • Harold Ross, QFD Green Belt® (USA)
    Tomoyoshi Naoi, Ph.D. (Japan)

  • Atsushi Ootaki, Ph.D. (Japan)Robert A. Hunt, Ph.D. (Australia)
    Ian A. Ferguson (UK)

  • Noriharu Kaneko (Japan)
    Akashi Fukuhara (Japan)
    Satoshi "Cha" Nakui (Japan)
    Thomas Fehlmann, Ph.D. (Sweitzerland)

  • Kozo Koura, Ph.D. (Japan)Georg Herzwurm, Ph.D. (Germany)
    Dilworth Lyman (USA)

  • Michiteru Ono (Japan)
    Anders Gustafsson, Ph.D. (Sweden)
    John Terninko, Ph.D. (USA)
    Jack ReVelle, Ph.D. (USA)

  • Glenn H. Mazur, QFD Red Belt® (USA)
    Tadashi Ohfuji (Japan)
    Bo Bergman, Ph.D. (Sweden)
    Richard Zultner (USA)

  • Robert M. Adams (USA)
    Don Clausing, Ph.D. (USA)
    Alberto Galgano (Italy)
    Hisakazu Shindo, Ph.D. (Japan)

  • Bob King (USA)Larry Sullivan (USA)
    Tadashi Yoshizawa, Ph.D. (Japan)