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
  

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Tools for Process Improvement

• 5S
• 5Y
• 7 Wastes
• 8D problem solving
• Activity Network Diagram
• Affinity Diagram
• ANOVA
  
• Attribute Control Charts
• Auditing
• BCS
  
• Brainstorming
• Benchmarking
• CCC
  
• Capability study
• Check Sheets
• Chi Square
• Consensus Agreement
• Cost of Quality
• CTQ tree
• Customer Focus Surveys
• Cycle time studies
• Data Analysis Explained
• Data Analysis in Microsoft Excel
• Data Analysis Techniques
• Database Deployment
• Dot Plot
• Design of Experiments
• DMAIC
• Effective Team Meetings
• Error Proofing
  

• Fishbone
• Flow Charts
  
• FMEA
  
• Gantt Charts
• Force Field Analysis
• Gage R&R
• Histrogram
• Histograms in Excel
• Interelationship Diagram
• Interaction Process Analysis
• Is / Is-not Matrix
• Kaizen
• Kanban
• Linear Regression
• Matrix Diagram
  
• Nominal Group Technique
• Normal Distribution
• OEE
  
• Organized Teams
• Pareto Charts
• Paynter Chart
• Payoff Matrix
• Picture Boarding
• Pie Charts
• Planning For Influence Chart
• Prioritization Matrix
• Process Decision Program Chart
• Process Mapping
• Process Summary Worksheet
• Process Streamlining
• Process Standardization
• Project Selection Checklist
  

• Quality Costs
• QMS Review
• Reduce Variation
• Regression
  
• Responsibility Chart
• Run Chart
• Sampling
• Set Specifications
• Scatter Diagram
• SIPOC
• SMED
  
• Solution Vision Matrix
• Spaghetti Diagram
• Stakeholder Chart
• Statistical Process Control
• Statistical Sampling
• Stream Lining
  
• Surveys
• SWOT Analysis
• Takt Time
  
• Target Shifting
• Team Dynamics
• Team Progress Model
• Theory of Constraints
• Training
• Tree Diagram
  
• TRIZ
  
• Value Stream Mapping
• Waste Walk
  

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Basic Tools for Process Improvement

• 5S
• BCS
  
• 8D problem solving
• Auditing
• Brainstorming
• CCC
• Check Sheets
• Consensus Agreement
• Data Analysis
  
• Dot Plot
  

• Effective Team Meetings
• Fishbone
• Flow Charts
• Flowcharting Software
• Force Field Analysis
• Histrogram
  
• Interaction Process Analysis
• Interelationship Diagram
• Is / Is-not Matrix
• Kaizen
• Kanban
• Matrix Diagram
  
• MSA
  
• Normal Distribution
• Pareto Charts
• Pie Charts
• Prioritization Matrix
• Process Decision Program Chart
• Process Mapping
• Process Summary Worksheet
• Process Standardization
• Responsibility Chart
• Run Chart
• Spaghetti Diagram
• Sampling
• Scatter Diagram
• Sipoc
  
• Stream Lining
  
• Surveys
• SWOT Analysis
• Training
• Tree Diagram
  
• Waste Walk
  

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Advance Tools for Process Improvement

These tools take the most time to learn. Normally a class is needed.They are way more advance than the basic tools for process improvement

• Attribute Control Charts
• ANOVA
  
• Benchmarking
• Customer Focus Surveys
• Database Deployment
• Design of Experiments
• FMEA
  
• Quality Costs
• Statistical Process Control
• Statistical Sampling
• Theory of Constraints
• TRIZ
  

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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.

• 5S
• 7 Wastes of Lean
  
• 8D problem solving
• ANOVA
• Auditing
• Balance Scorecards
  
• BCS
  
• Benchmarking
• Brainstorming
• CCC
• Customer Focus Surveys
• Data Analysis Explained
• Design of Experiments
  
• Database Deployment
• Interaction Process Analysis
• Kanban
• Regression
  
• StreamLining
• Training
  
• TRIZ
  
• Value Stream Mapping
• Waste Walk