Table of Contents
In an organization, there is a constant need to find the recurring defects with their root causes and sub-causes along with their consecutive effects. Quality management tools assist employees in finding errors in the process and also in eliminating them. It helps to find areas of improvement in the system helping organizations find obstacles and their solutions. Tools that significantly increase productivity and efficiency in various sectors. Hence, it’s more successful to meet customers’ or clients’ expectations. It enhances experiences in sectors including manufacturing, services, and healthcare.
Here are some Quality management tools and techniques:
1. Chart
It’s a graphical representation of data. Scottish engineer William Playfair introduced it in 1786. There are charts pie charts and bar charts. It helps in the identification of each data and understanding the structure, patterns, and trends in data. This chart is linked with a worksheet which gets automatically updated with every change in data. Charts are the most used quality management tool to represent complicated data more efficiently.
2. Histogram
Kaul Pearson introduced it in 1891. It’s similar to bar graphs structurally. There is a collection of bars where the height of the bars presents the frequency of data within that group. In quality management, the histogram is one of the most commonly used graphs by professionals to represent clear and concise frequency distribution that helps in the quick identification of improvement areas in the process.
3. Scatter diagram
John F. W Herschel created it in 1833. It may be a diagram, plot, graph, or chart. The graph uses dots to display two different numeric variables. In quality management, the scatter diagram helps to identify the quality defects, possible causes with their effects on the system. Thus It’s useful to eliminate the problem and finally achieve the desired outcome once we find the relation between variables.
4. Control chart
Stewart’s control chart was introduced by Walter in 1924. It is a useful tool to study the process of change over time. This chart is to compare current data and historical data in a process to know whether the variation is consistent or unpredictable. This quality management tool is widely used to know the variations to predict and monitor the process performance saving time and money.
5. Check Sheet
Dr Kaoru Ishikawa created this tally sheet. It is the most common quality management tool for collecting qualitative and quantitative data. It’s a tally sheet of recurring specific values that help to identify defect patterns and even their cause within a system.
6. Ishikawa diagram
It’s popularly called a fishbone diagram or cause and effect diagram. It was introduced by Dr Kaoru Ishikawa in 1945. The diagram resembles a fish skeleton and the graph can record the cause of specific defects. This quality management tool is crucial to finding the root cause of a specific defect and potential factors responsible for common problems in the process. This diagram helps to deal with a problem in a systematic manner and with different perspectives.
7. Flowchart
Industrial engineers Frank and Lillian Gilbreth created it in 1921. Flowcharts are one of the basic tools to document the process flow and organizational structures. It helps to find bottlenecks and unnecessary steps within the system. In various fields for example manufacturing, administration, research and development, service processes, academic projects, and healthcare we use these flowcharts widely.
8. Pareto Chart
It was introduced by Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto in the early 1900s.In this chart, the most common problems, along with the frequency occurring defects are identified with the help of bars and line graphs. Through the graph, we find problems, prioritized, and describe their frequency in the system.
9. TQM
W. Edwards Deming introduced Total quality management. It is an integrated and comprehensive way of regulating the system to produce customers’ demands the way expected in enhanced quality.
10. Failure mode and effect analysis
The American army developed FMEA in the 1940s end. It’s a stepwise analysis to find every possible failure in a process, function, system, or service.
It has two types:
DFMEA (Design failure mode and effect analysis)- it helps to identify problems in safety and regulatory concerns of products.
PFMEA (Process failure mode and effect analysis)-it covers the failure that affects product quality and its reliability.
11. Kaizen
Masaaki Imai introduced this tool in 1986 in Japan. This quality management tool works by improving the system at all levels providing quick and yet desired results in an organization.
Teamwork, quality circles, personal discipline, and improvement suggestions are important elements.
12. Checklist
Boeing introduced this in 1935. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that ensures that during the process every necessary step is taken. The checklist assures the user of finding and planning quality management activities systemically.
13. Six Sigma
It helps by minimizing errors to improve overall performance. It’s a comprehensive methodology utilizing (DMAIC)- Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
Benefits of using Quality Management Tools
- It helps organizations to continually enhance the quality of their products and services.
- It helps to systematically address challenges and their optimization.
- It’s a great tool to increase individual efficiencies in a system.
- It helps in increasing client satisfaction to the next level by matching with their quality standards.
- These tools boost processes or services by eliminating defects systematically and timely.
- It benefits by monitoring the contribution of each member towards the goal set.
10 Highest paying quality management jobs
- Quality managers:
The professionals in charge of supervising the production process to ensure consistent product standards.
- Quality directors:
The professionals are responsible for defining and promoting a quality mindset across an organization.
- Quality engineers:
The professionals are responsible for generating strategic plans to enhance the business processes and production outputs.
- Software quality assurance professionals:
The role is to develop, write, and manage the execution of a software test strategy.
- Project quality and performance managers:
These professionals develop quality control policies and standards for the company to follow and train staff too. They conduct in-house audits of product inventory and documentation.
- Customer relations managers:
Their role is to look after customer relationships even after the sales or services process is complete. They keep the customer updated about the latest of upcoming products or services.
- HR managers:
The professionals are responsible for efficient people management in an organization to gain a competitive advantage in business.
- Construction quality and safety manager:
The role is to ensure compliance with all kinds of safety and quality specifications. Also, to inspect a project before, during, and after construction.
- Production manager:
These professionals are responsible for planning, organizing, and negotiating budgets.
- IT consultant:
The professionals who look after the computer systems of an organization by making use of their skills in technology. They troubleshoot and design new systems of information technology.
Conclusion
Quality management tools provide help at different levels in an organization to enhance the quality of goods or services. It works by:-
- Assessing the faults.
- Eliminate these faults
Proper skill and knowledge of these tools help to get multiple career growth options and new job opportunities.
About Henry Harvin Quality Management Academy
We upskill the professionals here according to current in-demand quality management tools and skill sets.
Here are some features specially provided by Henry Harvin:
- Action-oriented learning solutions with extensive industry experience.
- Use of unique Goal-centric pedagogy by selective domain experts within the academy.
- The academy aims to function in its outreach geographies.
- We want to generate 50,000 employable Quality management professionals by 2030.
Features provided by Henry Harvin for all courses
- One-year gold membership
- Flexible schedule
- Weekly boot camp sessions
- Attend unlimited live sessions.
- Get recordings of all batches
- Mentoring by award-winning trainers. Visit henryharvin.com for more course details.
.webp)
