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Quality Tools & Techniques
There are many tools available to help us better understand what is
happening within an organization or process. Quality tools get to the
heart of implementing quality principles. Here are a few examples of quality
tools and techniques that you can use throughout the
DOH 5-step Performance
Improvement Process.
Quality Tools
Check Sheet
[32kb PDF]
Check sheets are some of the most common tools used for collecting data.
They allow the data to be collected in an easy, systematic, and organized
manner. Also, data collected using check sheets can be used as input data
for other quality tools such as Pareto diagrams.
Cause-and-Effect Diagram
[282kb PDF] (aka
Ishikawa or Fishbone Diagram)
One important part of process improvement is continuously striving to obtain
more information about the process and its output. Cause-and-effect
diagrams allow us to do not only that, but also lead us to the root
cause, or causes, of problems. It is a tool that enables you to
systematically construct a graphical representation of the trail that leads
ultimately to the root cause of a quality concern or problem.
Control Chart
[884kb PDF]
More commonly known as Statistical Process Control (SPC), this method is
based on the understanding of variation and how it effects the output of any
process. It allows you to continuously monitor, analyze, and understand a
process. Once you understand the process, you can control and attempt to
reduce the process variation.
Flowchart
[429kb PDF]
Flowcharts describe a process in as much detail as possible by graphically
displaying the steps in proper sequence. A good flowchart should show all
process steps under analysis by the performance improvement team, identify
critical process points for control, help explain a problem, and suggest
areas for further improvement.
Histogram
[487kb PDF]
A histogram is a tool for summarizing, analyzing, and displaying
data. It provides a graphical representation of the amount of variation
found in a set of data. Histograms sort observations or data points, which
are measurable data, into categories and describes the frequency of the data
found in each category.
Pareto Chart
[569kb PDF]
The purpose of the Pareto chart is to prioritize problems - to decide what
problems must be addressed. No organization has enough resources to tackle
every problem, so they must prioritize. The "Pareto Principle", also called
the 80-20 rule, states that a small percentage (20%) of any given group
accounts for a high amount (80%) of the problems.
Scatter Diagram
[168kb PDF]
A scatter diagram is a non-mathematical or graphical approach for
identifying relationships between a performance measure and factors that
might be driving it.
Group Process
Techniques
Affinity Diagram
[424kb PDF]
Sometimes a brainstorming session can generate so many ideas that it can
take a long time for the facilitator to order and analyze them. Affinity
diagrams build the grouping and analysis process into the brainstorming
session. It is particularly useful when collating a large volume of ideas,
and also helps the group to feel that they own the grouping process.
Brainstorming
[318kb PDF]
Brainstorming is a method used by a group of people to produce a
large number of creative ideas in a relatively short period of time.
Multi-Voting
[232kb PDF]
Multi-voting is a structured process of voting
by a team that helps reduce a list containing a large number of items down
to a manageable few.
Nominal Group Technique
[2250kb PDF]
Nominal Group Technique, or NGT, is a weighted
ranking method that enables a
group to generate and prioritize a large number of issues within a structure
that gives
everyone an equal voice.
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Staff in the Office of Performance Improvement is available to help you!
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(TA).
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