Learning how to use and implement Quality Tools correctly can be perceived as a difficult challenge to an organization. Knowing how to use quality tools correctly will open the door to identifying deep-rooted problems and enable you to understand your operations at a much deeper level.
When we introduce a particular method of doing a job, it is natural to consider whether the method is appropriate or not. The decision is usually based on past results and experience, or perhaps on conventional methods. Procedures will be most effective if a proper evaluation is made, and on-the-job data are essential for making a proper evaluation.
– Kaoru Ishikawa,
Quality Tools Inventor*
The good news is that the quality tools are not difficult to learn and apply when you have the McDCG experts to guide you through the process. We teach the techniques as well as help you put the data into actionable improvement plans.
We offer a two-day Quality Tools Basics course provides an overview of both the Basic 7(B7) and the New 7(N7) Quality Tools. Our course covers the need for tools and teaches you how they are used to permanently solve problems, identify or prioritize alternatives, and prevent recurrence.
The Seven Basic Quality Tools
- Cause-and-effect diagram (also known as the “fishbone” or Ishikawa diagram)
- Check sheet
- Control chart
- Histogram
- Pareto chart
- Scatter diagram
- Stratification (alternately, flow chart or run chart)
The Seven New Quality Tools
- Affinity diagram
- Relations diagram
- Tree diagram
- Matrix diagram
- Weighted decision making diagram
- Arrow diagram / Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Process decision program chart (PDPC)
* Ishikawa, K., “Guide to Quality Control,” Asia Productivity Organization, Tokyo, Japan, 1985.
