Articles - Manufacturing Quality Control Software - Because your profit is on the bottom line...

Articles

The Magnificent Seven (Quality Tools)


For quality professionals to be effective at their jobs, they must make it a high priority to master each of the indispensable, tried-and-true tools of quality control. Without them, there is neither quality nor control.

Ever since the quality movement emerged a few decades ago, so-called quality experts have unleashed an unending stream of new business and quality practices promising companies more profits and better quality. Too often, the new ways failed to accomplish either.

It’s time to go back to the basics of quality control.

In its January 2009 cover story, Quality Progress magazine presents an important reminder that despite the pressure for quality professionals to adopt the new, it’s critical to stick to the tried and true. Building from the Basics features some of the leading experts in the quality field explaining the importance and role of each of "the basic seven” quality control tools, which quality legend Kaoru Ishikawa maintained can solve 95% of any company’s problems:

1. Histograms
2. Control charts
3. Pareto analysis
4. Cause and effect diagrams
5. Check sheets
6. Scatter plots
7. Stratification

The article offers informative snapshots of how these tools should be used. Each section includes thoughtful graphs and charts. On a cautionary note, the article stresses that quality professionals shouldn’t view the collection of tools as a cafeteria order, picking only those tools that that they think apply or appeal to them. Whether the quality professionals’ place of responsibility for quality control lies on the top floor or on the shop floor, they would be well-served to become an expert in each.

“It’s imperative to know them all—inside and out—if you are to succeed as a quality professional.”

The Quality Progress article can be viewed at:
http://www.asq.org/quality-progress/2009/01/basic-quality/building-from-the-basics.html

(Note: If you haven't previously registered at this website, you'll need to in order to read the article. Registration is free.)
 
Quality Control Products SPC Software Applications Why Use WinSPC? SPC Information