Question

Write a 2 page memo (use a MS Word template) that relates how at least 2 Quality Improvement tools (such as the cause and effect diagram (Ishakawa), PARETO charts, etc.) to the PDCA or DMAIC methods of Quality Management.

Answer 1

The fishbone diagram or Ishikawa identifies many probable causes for an effect or problem. It can be applied to structure a brainstorming session. It quickly sorts ideas into useful categories. People by creation often like to get right to determine what to do about a dilemma, this can help bring out a more meticulous exploration of the issues behind the difficulty – which will lead to a more healthy solution. The fishbone will help to visually represent the many potential causes for a specific effect. It is particularly helpful in a group setting and for conditions in which little quantitative data is accessible for analysis.

A Pareto chart is a bar graph. The dimensions of the bars describe frequency or cost (time or money). They are arrayed with longest bars on the left and the smallest to the right. In this way, the diagram visually depicts which states are more significant. Thus, they are useful

• When examining data about the frequency of difficulties or causes in a process.
• When there are multiple problems or causes and you want to focus on the most important.
• When analyzing broad objectives by looking at their particular components.
• When presenting others your data.

Thus, we can see that quality tools like Ishikawa and Pareto are more of a reactive in nature. It means that we have got some problem and now you have adjusted yourself to examine the basic cause. They both are done after some problems have been identified and need to be identified.

However, PDCA and DMAIC are more active in nature. It means that one uses them during the initial phases of a new product/service design or any project so that FTR or First Time Right comes into picture and problems don't occur in the first place, let alone identifying and removing them.

A PDCA, plan–do–study–act (PDSA), Deming or Shewhart cycle is used

• As a model for constant improvement.
• When starting a new change project.
• When producing a new or improved design of a method, product or service.
• When defining a repeated work process.
• When designing data collection and analysis in order to establish and prioritize problems or root causes.
• When performing any change.

Thus, again we saw, the later ones are part of the project to not allow the problems to occur.