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.
The PDSA cycle is a twist on the common PDCA cycle.
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
- Balanced Scorecards
- 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
- LTV
- 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
Learn SPC in an hour. Train your employees. Improve your processes and products. Prevent defects and save your company money.
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
- 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
- Balanced Scorecards
- Benchmarking
- Customer Focus Surveys
- Database Deployment
- Design of Experiments
- FMEA
- LTV
- 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
Did I miss a continuous improvement tool?
I list many different quality and process improvement tools on this page. I'm trying to create a page where one can find them all in the same place. I plan on writing pages on each. So, please let me know if I missed one. Thanks.
Other Quality Tools
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Swimlane diagram
Described very well in The Basics of Process Mapping - 2nd Ed. - by Robert Damelio - CRC Press. 2011.
Responsibility Chart
The Responsibility chart is a simple tool that you can use to make sure that everyone is clear about roles and responsibilities. It works well within teams, …
Personal Brain for Mindmapping
Wouldn't this be a good tool for Affinity Diagramming?
QAS Home > CI Tools > Mind Mapping
PPAP management software
We send PPAP package to suppliers, we get the information back and have to evaluate it. Also, we want a global solution to manage the supplier quality …
FMEA
FMEA stands for Failure Mode Effects Analysis. It can be used in a couple of ways. For one, it records the history of defects and solutions to those issues. …
More Info
Fish Bone
Learn the steps to create a Fish Bone diagram.
Interrelationship Diagram
Learn the steps to create an interrelationship diagram. Article also provides insight on when to use it too.
Fishbone Template Problems and Downloads
This page discusses how to improve the fishbone template, documents problems with the fishbone diagram template and fishbone charts.
Check Points
Review this procedure creating check points, a continuous improvement tool. We include an example of a tally sheet too.
Details on Activity Network Diagram
The what, when, how and why of Activity Network Diagram
Scatter Diagram
Use a Scatter Diagram to investigate possible relationships. This article provides step by step instructions to creating one
Priorities Matrix
A priorities matrix evaluates and prioritizes a list of options. Learn to formally construct one and analyze the results.
Pareto Chart
The Pareto chart is one of the total quality management tools and usually used during the define stage in six sigma
Matrix diagram
Learn the different types of matrix diagram which is a key quality tool.
Balanced Scorecard
The Balanced Scorecard provides a clear prescription as to what companies should measure in order to 'balance' the financial perspective
PDCA cycle
Learn the PDCA cycle, when to use it, how to construct it. We include an example of it too.
Customer Lifetime Value The Key
Customer lifetime value the key to understanding how much to invest into customer retention. Download a free spreadsheet for calculating LTV.
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