Quality Management Tools

Many tools, methods, and techniques can be used in quality management. This chapter discusses the commonly used quality tools based on their unique principles and applications. Routine quality work can be seen as a problem‐solving process. A fundamental difference between ordinary problem solving and continuous improvement is mentality. Advanced problem‐solving approaches and processes use unique technologies and have special focuses. The seven basic quality management tools are a fishbone diagram, check sheet, histogram, Pareto chart, scatter diagram, control charts, and stratification. They have been proven effective, and widely used in various industries. There are various other tools for quality management. Many quality practitioners use seven additional tools. These seven additional tools are an affinity diagram, relations diagram, tree diagram, matrix chart, network diagram, prioritization matrix, and process decision program chart.