New 7 QC Tools You Need to Know to Improve Your Processes

Process Improvement 7 Quality Tools | 7 QC Tools

Process Improvement 7 Quality Tools | 7 QC Tools are also known as Seven Basic Quality Tools and Quality Management Tools. These graphical and statistical tools are used to analyse and solve work-related problems effectively. The 7 Quality Tools are widely applied by many industries for product and process improvements, and to solve critical quality problems.

Importance of 7 Quality Tools

The 7 Quality Tools, also known as the 7 Basic Tools of Quality, are a set of statistical tools used for problem-solving and quality improvement in various industries. These tools were originally developed by Kaoru Ishikawa, a Japanese quality control expert, and have since become a standard in quality management practices worldwide.

Here are some of the key reasons why the 7 Quality Tools are important:

1. Identify Root Causes: The 7 Quality Tools help organizations to identify the root causes of problems by analyzing data and information. This allows them to make informed decisions and take corrective actions to eliminate the underlying causes of problems.

2. Simplify Complex Issues: The 7 Quality Tools provide a structured approach to problem-solving that can simplify complex issues and help teams to focus on the most critical factors affecting quality.

3. Improve Communication: The 7 Quality Tools provide a common language and framework for problem-solving that can improve communication among team members, stakeholders, and customers.

4. Enhance Decision Making: The 7 Quality Tools provide a basis for data-driven decision making, helping organizations to make informed decisions based on facts rather than assumptions or opinions.

5. Increase Efficiency: The 7 Quality Tools help organizations to identify areas where improvements can be made and to implement solutions that can reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase productivity.

6. Ensure Consistency: The 7 Quality Tools help organizations to standardize their processes, reducing variability and ensuring that products and services meet customer expectations.

7. Foster Continuous Improvement: The 7 Quality Tools provide a framework for continuous improvement, enabling organizations to identify areas for improvement and to implement changes that lead to long-term success.

Overall, the 7 Quality Tools are essential for organizations that want to improve quality, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. By using these tools, organizations can make informed decisions, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and improve their bottom line.

7 QC tools are extensively used in various Problem Solving Techniques which are listed below:

• 8D Problem Solving
• PDCA Deming Cycle forContinuous improvement in product and processes.
• Various phases of6 Sigma to reduce Process Variations. 

WHAT ARE 7 QC TOOLS?

The 7 quality tools are simple graphical and statistical tools but very powerful in solving quality problems and process improvement.

These statistical tools are very easy to understand and can be implemented without any complex analytical competence or skills.

The 7 tools of quality are generally used by Quality Control and Quality Assurance engineers to solve product or process-related quality issues on a daily/weekly/monthly basis and to reduce/eliminate non-value-added activities like product rework, repair, and rejection. 

7 QC Tools List | Quality Tools

1. Check Sheet
2. Fishbone Diagram
3. Histogram
4. Pareto Chart
5. Control Chart
6. Scatter Diagram
7. Stratification Diagram
8. 
   

7 Tools of quality | In Brief

Check Sheet

The check sheet is used for collecting, recording, and analysing the data. Data collection is an important activity in the problem-solving process as it provides a basis for further action. Data may be numerical, observations and opinions, etc.

Fish bone Diagram

Fish bone diagram is also called as Cause and Effect diagram and Ishikawa diagram. It helps to Identify all possible potential causes and select the real/best potential cause which contributes to the problem/effect. The brainstorming technique is used for potential cause identification.

In a brainstorming session, all 4M or 6M factors are taken into consideration to identify the potential causes. 4M or 6M factors are – Man, Machine, Method, Material, Measurement, and Mother nature also called Environment.

Histogram

A Histogram is a pictorial representation of a set of data, and the most commonly used bar graph for showing frequency distributions of data/values. Histogram frequency distribution chart is widely used in 6 Sigma problem solving process.

Pareto Chart

The Pareto chart helps to Narrow the problem area or prioritize the significant problems for corrective measures. The pareto principle is based on the 80-20 rule. It means that 80 percent of the problems/failures are caused by 20 percent of the few major causes/factors which are often referred to as Vital Few.

And the remaining 20 percent of the problems are caused by 80 percent of many minor causes which are referred to as Trivial Many. Hence, it gives us information about Vital few from Trivial many.

Control Chart

A control chart is also known as the SPC chart or Shewhart chart. It is a graphical representation of the collected information/data and it helps to monitor the process centering or process behavior against the specified/set control limits.

A control chart is a very powerful tool to Investigate/disclose the source of Process Variations present in the manufacturing processes. Tells when to take necessary action to eliminate the Common or Random or Chance variations and special causes of the variations.

The control chart helps to measure and analyze the process capability and performance  (Cp & Cpk and Pp and Ppk) of the production process.

Scatter Diagram

A Scatter diagram is also known as Correlation Chart, Scatter Plot, and Scatter Graph. A Scatter graph is used to find out the relationship between two variables. In other words, it shows the relationship between two sets of numerical data. Scatter graph shows a Positive or Negative correlation between two variables.

Independent variable data and dependent Variable data are customarily plotted along the horizontal X-axis and Vertical Y-axis respectively. Independent variable is also called controlled parameters.

Stratification Diagram

 

A technique used to analyze and divide a universe of data into homogeneous groups is called -Strata. Stratification tools are used when the data come from different sources or conditions, such as data collected from different shifts, machines,  people, days,  suppliers and population groups, etc.

Process Flow Diagram

A Process Flow Chart (PFC) is a diagram of the separate steps of a operations/process in sequential order. PFC is also known as process flow diagram (PFD), and Process Map.

7 QC Tools benefits

• To analyze and solve quality problems effectively.
• Improve product and process quality.
• Enhance customer satisfaction.
• Reduce cost due to poor quality.
• Helps in investigating the potential causes and real root cause of the problem for taking effective countermeasures.
• Check sheet helps in data collection and recording for quality problem analysis.  
• Identify and reduce the process verification using the SPC Quality Tools.
• Pareto QC tool helps to narrow down the quality problem.
• Helps in identifying the various sources of variations present in the process. Thanks for reading.