Tools and Training 
Critical to Quality Tree (CTQ Tree)

Download: Critical to quality tree worksheet (DOC)

On this page:
What is the critical to quality tree?
How to construct a critical to quality tree
Examples of the critical to quality tree
More information

The critical to quality (CTQ) tree helps translate broad customer needs and requirements into specific, measureable performance requirements.

1. Identify a process, product, or service, and a customer associated with that process, product, or service.
2. Identify one of the customer’s critical needs related to that process, product, or service. Customer needs establish the relationship between you and your customer (i.e., the customer comes to you because they need __________).
3. Identify your customer’s wants/requirements related to his/her need. These are the factors that must exist for customers to be satisfied or understand what they need to do to get what they need.
4. Identify potential performance standards (i.e., how will you know you are meeting your customer’s wants/requirements?).

Critical to Quality (CTQ) Trees
MindTools

Critical to Quality (CTQ) Trees
MindTools

Customer Focus
Minnesota Dept. of Health