Quality method

The use of quality methods (also called quality techniques , quality procedures ) serves to improve product or process properties in organizations. Some of the methods are very general and can be divided into “Seven Elementary Quality Techniques (Q7)” and “Seven Management Tools (M7)”. Other applied methods ( QFD , FMEA , statistical process control , ...) are more complex and are mainly used in certain phases of a development process.

Seven Elementary Quality Techniques (Q7)

• Brainstorming ( brainwriting )
• Error collection card
• histogram
• Correlation diagram
• Pareto chart
• Quality control card
• Cause and effect diagram (also called fishbone analysis or Ishikawa diagram)

Seven management tools (M7)

• Affinity diagram
• Relationship diagram
• Decision tree (tree diagram)
• Matrix diagram
• Portfolio
• Network plan technology
• Problem decision plan

Other methods used

• Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• Design Review Based on Failure Mode (DRBFM)
• Event Tree Analysis ( event tree analysis )
• Fault Tree Analysis (FTA Fault Tree Analysis)
• Frequency relevance analysis for problems (FRAP)
• Statistical process control (SPC)
• Statistical design of experiments (DoE, Design of Experiments)
• Service blueprinting
• Sequential Event Method (SEM)
• Poka Yoke
• House of Quality

Selection process of quality methods

Numerous efforts have been made in the literature to classify real quality problems into categories. Nickols' quality problems were classified into systematic categories. The classification into systematic categories of quality problems is useful to better focus problem-solving methods.

The three main quality tasks (repair, improvement, engineering) are assigned to the basic problem categories of performance and design problems. Smith has refined Nickols' distinction between performance and design problems and categorized the results of his extensive research into five types of quality problems. Then the quality problems could be divided into 5 types of quality problems (conformity problem, unstructured performance problem, efficiency problem, product design problem, process design problem).

The problem categories can be used to make the problem-solving process more systematic and efficient. Problem-solving strategies can be defined and techniques can be selected based on the respective problem situation. The problem solvers are then able to choose appropriate tools and techniques.

As part of a “roadmap quality analysis”, an assignment of the individual problem-solving methods to the respective quality problems was formulated. The systematic procedure within the respective quality problems (conformity problem, efficiency problem, product design problem, process design problem) is based on the phases of the DMAIC method .

See also

• Quality engineering QII
• Quality assurance (QA)

literature

• Gerd F. Kamiske (ed.); Manual of QM Methods: Choosing the right method and implementing it successfully . Hanser Verlag, 2012, ISBN 978-3-446-42019-9 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Gerd F. Kamiske (ed.); Manual of QM Methods: Choosing the right method and implementing it successfully . Hanser Verlag, 2012, ISBN 978-3-446-42019-9 .