If you’ve heard of quality management, it’s very likely that you’ve also heard of the main quality tools. These, roughly speaking, constitute a specific group of analytical tools and visualisation the aim of which is to highlight areas of conflict and, of course, areas for improvement as far as quality is concerned.
In this post, I’ll be discussing the concept of quality management, we discuss the importance of quality tools and, to conclude, we go into detail about each one. There are seven in total – the most common ones in organisational settings, industry and the service sector.
The concept of quality management
Quality management aims to ensure the compliance with standards and minimum requirements relating to the manufacture of products, the provision of services and the efficient execution of processes within an organisation. It is a concept that refers to a set of methodologies whose techniques, when implemented, help to meet the needs and expectations of the customer. In this regard, quality management is synonymous with constant monitoring, which seeks, in a proactive manner, to improve operational aspects at every stage of the supply chain.
Quality management is therefore implemented with the aim of achieving not only greater efficiency through the optimisation processes, but also to comply with regulations and protocols which govern its activities (e.g. ISO standards). When applying assessment methodologies and techniques, errors are identified, faults are rectified and potential problems are addressed. This ensures the efficient management of the production targets, which leads to greater competitiveness in the market. Audits, whether internal or external, are commonly carried out as part of quality management.
An Introduction to Quality Management Tools
Having regard to the concept of quality management, it is important to consider the nature and significance of the tools used for this purpose. These are essential tools to implement an effective methodology that ensures the control and improvement of processes. When applied correctly, these tools make it possible to verify compliance with quality standards, anticipate risks and, of course, draw up corrective action plans. They thus facilitate the timely identification of problems, the data collection and analysis, and the implementation of optimal solutions.
That said, the quality management methodology begins with the planning and design of control measures and extends through to implementation and rigorous process monitoring. That said, the use of specific tools enables a timely response to any deviation from or breach of established standards. This not only ensures the quality of the final product or service, but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement within the organisation.
But what are these quality tools? As we shall see in the next section, there are at least seven such systems that are quite widely used in the monitoring of production processes.
7 quality tools for products and services
As we have seen, the quality management tools They are essential tools for identifying both the strengths and the areas for improvement in production processes and service delivery. Indeed, these tools help to identify, analyse and rresolving quality issues systematically and effectively. Each tool is described in detail below.
1. Stratification
As the name suggests, this technique is used to set up categories; that is to say, it enables the identification of groups, ideas, factors, locations and products, amongst other things. What are the benefits of this procedure? It facilitates the analysis of each category; in this way, it is possible to identify certain trends or patterns within these groups and, at the same time, within the sub-groups that make them up. What is the result? Factors, aspects, situations and other determining factors that may be affecting the quality of the product or service are identified. To understand this better, stratification can focus on machinery, work groups or even batches of materials.
2. Checklist
This tool is characterised by its simplicity, but also by its scope in terms of quality management. This is a structured and organised record in which data is collected through the monitoring, observation or inspection of processes or other activities, such as the monitoring of certain tools used in production. By having a a certain number of records, this sheet enables us to identify recurring values or even deviations from them. Deviations are an indication of problems. Once this has been analysed, informed decisions are made that contribute to the quality improvement.
3. Histogram
The histogram is another widely used tool in quality management. It is a graphical representation which illustrates the frequency distribution using bars, some of which are positioned higher than others to represent those frequencies. So, what is its purpose? It allows us to see variations in a process thanks to the data collected. In other words, it is a clear and structured visual representation of a range of values. That said, the histogram provides information on normal distributions, skewed distributions, comb distributions, amongst others.
4. Scatter plot
As we have seen, the graphs are very important for interpreting how all the processes involved in the development of products and services. Whilst the histogram is a highly valued option, so too is the scatter plot, whose graph allows us to observe cause-and-effect relationships thanks to the distribution of data along the X and Y axes. In this regard, analysing the graph provides insight not only into the causes, but also into the main consequences in relation to certain elements, such as materials and service tools, amongst others.
5. Control chart
This quality tool bears similarities to the control chart, but is even more focused on the statistical analysis of the process. What can be seen in this graph? In simple terms, it focuses on the common variations and special variations, relating to process activities and external events, respectively. One advantage of this tool is that it makes it easy to search for time periods within certain limits. In this respect, it helps to to make decisions before any significant deviations occurs.
6. Ishikawa diagram
The Ishikawa diagram, herringbone pattern A cause-and-effect diagram is an extremely powerful tool for identifying, organising and presenting possible causes of a problem affecting quality. What does this diagram look like? The layout is simple: a branching structure is drawn, resembling the bones of a fish, in which the primary and secondary causes of a problem. Once drawn up, the diagram provides a comprehensive overview of the factors that could affect quality to a greater or lesser extent. The comprehensive analysis This is necessary in order to implement appropriate corrective measures.
7. Pareto chart
Another tool that cannot be overlooked in quality management is the Pareto chart. Also known as the the 80/20 rule, is a bar chart in which causes are presented in descending order according to their frequency. It therefore enables the most significant causes to be identified, so that decisions can be made and measures implemented to improve the affected areas. Measures are implemented to optimisation of the product or service.
