Final answer:
The first step in developing a House of Quality is to develop a list of customer requirements, as this helps to define the design problem in terms of criteria and constraints and leads to determining design specifications. Hence, option (B) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in developing a House of Quality is to develop a list of customer requirements. This is foundational, as the entire purpose of the House of Quality is to connect what customers want with how a product can be designed to meet those needs. It is a part of the broader quality function deployment (QFD) process.
Once customer requirements have been established, they provide critical input for defining the design problem. The design problem must be understood in terms of the criteria and constraints that will be used to evaluate the quality of the design. Constraints are conditions that the design must meet. Criteria are measurable values to compare various designs and to decide which one is preferable.
Understanding the problem allows for a more detailed design phase where design specifications can be determined. This includes performing a market analysis, setting up the design architecture, and identifying physical components like shapes and dimensions. This clear understanding of the design project scope is crucial for subsequent development.