The 7 Classic Tools of Quality

The 7 Classic Tools of Quality

The most common Quality Tools that can be used to solve the vast majority
of quality-related issues
Pareto Chart Scatter Diagram Control Chart Flow Chart

Upper control limit

Frequency

Variable 1
Percent

Lower control limit

A B C D E Variable 2 Time

Cause-and-effect Histogram Checklist / Check Sheet

Cause Effect Distribution Task / Process Step
Repeat Mon. Tues. Wed.
Count
Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.
Process 1
Materials Methods <Value
Count 1. Task Description D
Total >
Type of Error / Reason
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thu.2. Task Description
Fri. Score D 
Frequency

1. Description of Type //// // // //// 3.

// Task Description
//// / 22 AN -
<Value
4. Task Description D
2. Description of Type // /// // /// //// / 16 >
Process 2
3. Description of Type //// / //// //// / //// // 23
<Value
1. Task Description D
4. Description of Type //// / /// //// // /// 19 >
2. Task Description AN 
…
3. Task Description D 
… … …
Manpower Machinery …

Total Errors 16 9 13 18 22 80
Pareto Chart
This sample slide shows two Pareto Charts to compare different types of
customers experience

Complaints: Residential Complaints: Commercial

30 20

25
15
20

Percentage of Sales
# calls

15 10

10
5
5

0 0
n f o w o w n f
Scatter Diagram
Scatter Diagrams illustrate and chart positive and negative direction of relationships and to
discover cause and effect relationships, as well as bonds and correlations, between two
variables

October

July

April

January

October

July

April

January
0 1 2 3 4 5
Control Chart
The Quality Control Chart shows a process over a specific period of time and identifies
trends, shifts and patterns
70

60
Abnormal variation Upper Control Limit
due to assignable sources
(UCL)
Average range or quality

50 Normal variation
due to chance

40
Process Average
(or Target Value)
30

20

Out-of-control Point Abnormal variation

10 (Special Cause) due to assignable sources Lower Control Limit
(LCL)
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Time
General Flow Chart Symbols
Placeholder for your own sub headline
Placeholder

Yes
Placeholder Text Placeholder Placeholder

No
Placeholder

Yes
Text Placeholder Placeholder

No
Placeholder

 The text that you

insert will retain the Yes
same style and format Text Text Placeholder
as the placeholder text.
No
Placeholder

 The text that you

insert will retain the
Text Placeholder
same style and format
as the placeholder text.
Fishbone Diagram (Cause and Effect / Ishikawa)
Ishikawas illustrate multiple levels of potential causes (inputs), and ultimate effects
(outputs), of problems or issues that may arise in the course of business
Cause Effect
Description 1 Description 2 Description 3

Placeholder Placeholder Placeholder

Placeholder Placeholder Placeholder

Problem /
Quality
Characteristic
Placeholder Placeholder Placeholder

Effect that
Placeholder Placeholder Placeholder
needs
improvement

Description 4 Description 5 Description 6

Developed by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa in 1943

Histogram
A Histogram is a graphic summary of variation in a set of data that
can be analyzed in order to make decisions regarding them
40

30

20

10

0
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900

Very effective for statistical or questionnaire results

Check Sheet (Tally Sheet)
The Check Sheet is a simple document that is used for collecting data
in real-time and at the location where the data is generated
Product <product name> ID R123 Number Inspected 265
Stage Final Inspection Date 12th Jan Checked by John Doe

Count / Check
Type of Error / Reason Subtotal
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thu. Fri.
1. Description of Type //// // // //// // //// / 22

2. Description of Type // /// // /// //// / 16

3. Description of Type //// / //// //// / //// // 23

4. Description of Type //// / /// //// // /// 19

Grand Total 16 9 13 18 22 80
Check List
The items to be performed for a task are listed in a Check List to indicate as complete
when each is accomplished
Count
Task / Process Step
Repeat Mon. Tues. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

Process 1

1. Task Description D <Value>

2. Task Description D 

3. Task Description AN -

4. Task Description D <Value>

Process 2

1. Task Description D <Value>

2. Task Description AN 

3. Task Description D 

… …

D = Daily AN = As Needed
Data and Analysis
Box Plot / Whisker Plot (Excel based)
Each individual box symbol summarizes the distribution of data within a data set

100

87 86 87
80
71
64
60 58 56
45
40
31.5 33.5
30 27.5
20
12
0 -2 -5
-15 -18
-20

-40 -37

-60
Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4 Row 5 Row 6
Bar Chart
Bars charts are useful for displaying series as sets of horizontal bars which are proportional
to the value of the item it represents
Description 1 840
Description 2 1808
Description 3 1346
Description 4 3347
Description 5 1431
Description 6 2992
Description 7 2589
Description 8 3365
Description 9 5701
Description 10 1660
Description 11 1214
Description 12 1023
Description 13 3358
Description 14 1419
Run Chart (Trend Chart)
A Run Chart is used to display observed data in a time sequence representing some aspect
of the output of manufacturing or other business process
Rate %
Rate % Run Alert
9 Mean Rate

7
Values

0
Jan May Sep Jan May Sep

Subgroups
Analytic Methods
Solution Effect Analysis
The Solution Effect Analysis is a method to examine (brainstorming) the consequences of
implementing a solution

Materials Equipment

Minor Effect Minor Effect

Solution
Minor Effect Minor Effect

Methods People

1. Brainstorm and evaluate 2. Classify effects under 3. Update Solution Effect

all possible effects of the major headings e.g. Analysis Template by
solution.  money / materials writing effects on the
 people / man diagram.
 equipment /machine
 methods.
Root cause analysis (RCA)
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a class of problem solving methods aimed at identifying the
root causes of problems or events
Nr. Possible Cause Weight Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3
50% 35% 25%
1 Cause 1 50%

2 Cause 2 35%
Text
3 Cause 3 25%

4 … …
Cause 4 Cause 5
5 … … ..% ..%

Nr. What? How? Who? When? Status

1 … … … …

2 … … … …

3 … … … …

4 … … … …

5 … … … …