If a customer demands a product with no defects, what term is used to describe this requirement?

The term used to describe the requirement for a product with no defects is CTQ, which stands for Critical to Quality. In the context of Six Sigma and quality management, CTQ elements are key measurable characteristics of a product or service that must be met to satisfy the customer. When a customer specifies that a product must have "no defects," this directly corresponds to the quality expectations that are deemed critical for customer satisfaction. CTQs are essential in determining what quality standards need to be focused on in the manufacturing or process improvement efforts, ensuring that the end product meets the highest standards of quality as defined by customer requirements.

Other terms like specification, requirement, and standard may relate to quality in a general sense but do not specifically highlight the importance of the customer's perspective on product quality as directly as CTQ does. Specifications outline the details of a product, requirements can encompass broader aspects, and standards refer to established norms, but CTQ is uniquely focused on the dimensions of quality that directly impact customer satisfaction.