House of Maintainability: A QFD-Based Approach for Proactive Maintainability Assessment Linked to Design Decision

The concept of maintenance has undergone a significant evolution, adapting to the changing demands of industry over time. Initially limited to corrective actions during the Industrial Revolution—often performed without specialized personnel or dedicated departments—modern maintenance now incorporates advanced design considerations such as reliability, maintainability, safety, sustainability, and performance. This research presents a novel methodology aimed at integrating maintainability into the early stages of equipment and system design. Centered on continuous improvement, the approach prioritizes design variables that facilitate efficient maintenance throughout the asset’s lifecycle. Grounded in the UNE 151001 standard and employing the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) technique, the proposed methodology introduces the “House of Maintainability”—a structured tool that supports maintainability-oriented design and allows for diagnostic assessments of existing systems. By capturing stakeholder requirements and maintenance experience across various systems and contexts, the tool systematically translates these inputs into design criteria, ensuring compliance with maintainability standards. The methodology is validated through a real-world case study, confirming its practical applicability and effectiveness in enhancing industrial design processes with a focus on maintainability.