Quality improvement programs such as Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigm
ID: 469481 • Letter: Q
Question
Quality improvement programs such as Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma use a number of common tools for problem solving and process improvement. Many of these tools have been in use for many years in various quality improvement programs prior to their integration into TQM and Six Sigma. Common quality tools include flowcharts, check sheets, histograms, Pareto charts, scatter diagrams, run charts, control charts, and cause-and-effect diagrams. Common tools for generating ideas include brainstorming, benchmarking, and quality circles. In this exercise we examine these tools and how they are used for problem solving and process improvement.
Explanation / Answer
1. Flowchart is a process flow diagram and is a diagrammatic representation of different steps involved in a process. The steps are depicted in a sequential manner. Flowchart is used as a quality tool as it helps in understanding the workings of a process or how a process is done. Scope for improvement in the process can be determined.
2. Check sheets are structured forms for analyzing and collecting data. These sheets are used as a quality tool as data is observed as well as collected repeatedly. The data is collected for the same location and by the same person. Data for defect causes, defect locations, problems in the process etc. can be collected and then observed.
3. Histograms are graphs that show frequency distributions in a data set. In other words a histogram shows how often a data value occurs from a given set of data. Histograms are used as quality tools as they help in determining if the output of a process is normally distributed or not. Changes in a process that have happened from one point in time to other points can be determined and their reasons can be then found.
4. Pareto charts are bar graphs. The bars in the graph will show the cost of a process or the frequencies. Longest bars are shown on the left side of the graph while the right side shows the shorter bars. Pareto charts are used as quality tools as it helps in separating the most important and most significant problems from the many problems at hand.
5. Scatter diagram or X-Y graph is a depiction of a pair of numerical data in order to determine the relationship between the two data. Scatter diagram is used as a quality tool when there are dependent variable and an independent variable. The scatter diagram helps in determining the potential reasons for a problem by finding the relationship between the variables.
6. Run charts are a line graph that shows the movement of data over a period of time. These charts are used a quality tool as the movement and behavior of a variable can be analyzed over time with regards to a process.
7. Control charts are also used to show the changes in a process over time. It is however different from a run chart as a central line is used in the chart which shows the average. Control charts are used as quality tools as they help in determining if process variation is consistent and in control or are out of control.
8. Cause and effect diagrams are used to identify the various causes for an effect. The effect is the problem. This diagram is used as a quality tool as it helps in determining the various different causes that leads to a problem.
9. Brainstorming is a group discussion session in order to generate new ideas for solving a problem. For instance while making a cause and effect diagram, brainstorming is done in order to identify the important categories with regards to the causes of a problem.
10. Benchmarking is the method of comparing the process of an organization with that of the industry standards. This is used as a tool for generating ideas as by comparing performance metrics of a company with that of existing best practices the methods of improvement and scope of improvement can be ideated on.
11. Quality circle is a group of employees who ideate on ways of solving a problem and improving the processes. These employees meet at regular intervals and use different problem solving methods like pareto analysis or cause-and-effect diagrams to do their analysis.