TOOL

USAGE

Control charts

Determine process control status; maintain statistical control.

Pareto diagram

Select most promising opportunities for improvement. Rank-order problems.

Histogram

Group data and display graphically. Visually evaluate empirical distribution of process.

Scatter diagram

Display change in one variable as another variable changes.

Flow chart

Organize information about a process in a graphical manner. Show how inputs combine to create outputs.

Cause and effect diagrams

Display all possible causes of a particular problem in an organized graphical fashion.

Check sheet

Delineate important items and characteristics, direct attention to them and verify they were evaluated.

Design of experiments

Proactively improve processes by evaluating the effect of carefully planned and controlled changes to input variables.