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Joe Manuel posted an update in the group
7 months agoKnowledge Shared = Knowledge Multiplied “Good To Know “
The 7 Basic Quality Tools for Process Improvement
“Which word or country comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Quality’?”
Answer: “Yes, it would be Japan.”
Yes, Japan is known worldwide for its quality products and services. One of the many reasons for this is its excellent quality management. How did it become so? Japan has Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa to thank for that.
Dr.Kaoru Ishikawa is considered the ‘Father of Japanese Quality’ for his creation of innovative developments in quality management.
He is famous for creating the fishbone diagram, a type of ‘root cause analysis’ which we still use in Quality Improvement (QI) to help make decisions and create actions. Ishikawa is a hugely respected figure in Quality Improvement, having been instrumental in developing quality initiatives in Japan.
The 7 Basic Quality Tools for Process Improvement was first emphasised by Kaoru Ishikawa.
1.Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagram
The Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagram is also known as the cause-and-effect diagram, introduced by Kaoru Ishikawa. It helps users to identify the causes or factors of the effect or problem and solve them accordingly. Ishikawa Diagram looks like a fish’s skeleton with the fish head to the right of the diagram and the bones branching off behind it to the left. It helps in identifying the root cause of the problem and improving the business process by finding the solution to the effect.
2. Scatter Diagram
Scatter Diagram or scatter plot is a statistical quality control tool. The scatter diagram serves the same purpose as the fishbone diagram while establishing a relationship between the causes and the overall effect. These are depicted as variables – X and Y and are used by quality management professionals to analyse the relationship between the two variables. After establishing the relation, professionals can start working toward finding the solution to the problems. Professionals can use any number of independent and dependent variables to create a scatter plot.
3. Histogram
Histogram was introduced by Karl Pearson. A histogram is a bar graph that shows the frequency distribution on each bar. It is used to study the areas of improvement that are needed at any given point in time in the production process. Quality professionals use this tool for studying various data like days of the week, physical measurements, the time needed to complete tasks, etc. Furthermore, Histogram helps in analyzing and interpreting the actions of various data sets to control quality.
4.Control Chart
This quality control tool is also called the Shewhart chart after Walter A. Shewhart. A Control Chart is a statistical chart used to determine the stability and predictability of the process over time. It helps in reducing process variation by comparing the current data to historical data. Moreover, Control Chart helps in decision making for process improvement goals.
5.Pareto Chart
This QC Tool named after Vilfredo Pareto is used to determine the biggest contributors to a particular problem. Identifying these factors will help quality management professionals adjust to the causes and rectify the problem easily. Pareto chart is represented in a combination of bar graph and line graph. The 80-20 rule, which claims that 20% of the key factors account for 80% of an issue, is the foundation of the Pareto chart. The remaining 20% of the problem is caused by small elements that together account for 80% of the problem.
6.Check Sheet
Professionals utilise check sheets to collect quantitative or qualitative data. This quality control tool is called a tally sheet when it’s used for collecting quantitative data. The purpose of a check sheet is to list important data or information in a table and check their status. This helps in understanding the progress of the production process, find patterns, and solve problems.
7.Stratification
This quality control and assurance tool is also called a flowchart or run chart. Stratification divides data into categories and classifies them into groups. Depicting data in a visual representation helps quality professionals derive meaningful information from them, ultimately leading to process improvement. Moreover, Stratification improves understanding of the process, and identifies inefficiencies or bottlenecks.
The contributions of Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa in the quality movement have been nothing short of transformative.
His emphasis on employee involvement, customer satisfaction, and a holistic approach to quality has shaped the way organisations approach continuous improvement.
Dr. Ishikawa’s legacy continues to inspire businesses worldwide to strive for excellence, embrace quality as a core value, and continually seek ways to enhance their processes and products. His impact on the quality movement remains enduring and continues to shape the way organisations operate and succeed in a competitive global market.
Raghunandan M N, Sandeep Anishetty and 2 others2 Comments-
Very much needed in today’s world, when due to the technology clutter, these basics take a second place, when they actually must be the foundation.
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Yes, very true.Building /Developing any skills, processes ,foundation, organisation without the right fundamentals is always dangerous.
Also, successful performers, effective leaders, and sports champions often demonstrate a mastery of various theories and best practices, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Their understanding of these theories and best practices allows them to refine and amplify their inherent skills to a significant extent, enabling them to excel and achieve remarkable success in their respective fields.”
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