Basic Tools
for
Process Improvement
Below is a list of Basic Tools for Process Improvement. I use these tools when applying the PDSA cycle.
Plan: Identify the problem or the issue. Perceive the final outcome. Gather the data.
Do: Conduct the action. Make the improvements. Implement the changes
Study: Review the actions, improvements and changes. Are they all positive? Were there any negative consequences?
Act: Document the improvements. Lock in the changes. If there were any negatives, conduct the planning process again.
Quality assurance and engineering professionals use these tools to drive continuous improvement within the organization. These methods include the six sigma tools.
Key Elements for Improvement:
- Team Approach
- Process focus
- Measurement is critical.
- Scientific Approach
Tools for Process Improvement
- 5S
- 5Y
- 8D corrective action
- Activity Network Diagram
- Affinity Diagram
- Attribute Control Charts
- Auditing
- Brainstorming
- Benchmarking
- Capability study
- Check sheets
- Consensus Agreement
- CTQ tree
- Customer Focus Surveys
- Cycle time studies
- Data Analysis Explained
- Data Analysis in Microsoft Excel
- Database Deployment
- Dot Plot
- Design of Experiments
- Effective Team Meetings
- Error Proofing
- Fishbone
- Flow Charts
- Flowcharting Software
- Force Field Analysis
- Gage R&R
- Histrogram
- Histograms in Excel
- Interrelationship Digraph
- Is / Is-not Matrix
- Linear Regression
- Nominal Group Technique
- Normal Distribution
- Organized Teams
- Pareto Charts
- Paynter Chart
- Payoff Matrix
- Picture Boarding
- Pie Charts
- Planning For Influence Chart
- Prioritization Matrix
- Process Mapping
- Process Summary Worksheet
- Process Streamlining
- Process Standardization
- Project Selection Checklist
- Quality Costs
- Reduce Variation
- Responsibility Chart
- Run Charts
- Set Specifications
- Scatter Diagram
- Solution Vision Matrix
- Stakeholder Chart
- Statistical Process Control
- Statistical Sampling
- Surveys
- SWOT Analysis
- Target Shifting
- Team Dynamics
- Team Progress Model
- Theory of Constraints
- Training
- Workflow Diagram
Basic Tools for Process Improvement
These tools are easy to learn and apply.
Advance Tools for Process Improvement
These tools take the most time to learn. Normally a class is needed.
- Attribute Control Charts
- Customer Focus Surveys
- Database Deployment
- Design of Experiments
- Quality Costs
- Statistical Process Control
- Statistical Sampling
- Theory of Constraints
The Best Tools for Process Improvement
In my opinion, these are the tools that have the most value for process improvement. These tools, when applied correctly, can significantly drive down internal costs.
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