Seven Basic Quality tools documents
Definition of Quality Management -- it is a method for ensuring that all the activities necessary to design, develop and implement a product or service are effective and efficient with respect to the system and its performance. It is also a principle set by the company to endure the continuous advocacy of quality services and products, or the further improvement of it.
Welcome to QT-charts knowledge base section. Hopefully you will find some of them useful in your work.
(Read articles below to learn more.)
Introduction to Matrix diagram 2001
The matrix diagram is one of seven
‘new’ quality tools that have importance to the manufacturing world. The other seven tools include: the affinity
diagram, the interrelationship diagraph, the tree diagram, the prioritization
matrix, the process decision program chart, and the activity network diagram.
The new quality tools were extremely beneficial for the problem solving
process. The matrix diagram in
particular is used to portray the actions required for a process or product
improvement. Even though the matrix
diagram shows importance and ease, it is the least commonly used tool (Vail 9).
History
These new tools were developed to rid
the problems that occurred with the complexity of the seven traditional tools,
such as: Flowcharting, Cause and Effect Diagrams, Pareto Analysis, Control
Charts, Scatter Diagrams, Check sheets, and Histograms. With the dedication of
the Japanese, continuous improvement had helped them come to some conclusions
about the traditional seven quality tools.
The Japanese realized the new seven quality tools were the most
effective, which entered them into the second wave of quality (Vail 8). In
effect, the new quality management tools were used mainly for the qualitative
problems in nature and were also used by the middle and upper management (Swift
234).
The corrective action began on April
26, 1972. This took place when the
Japanese Society of Quality Control Technique Development had their first
meeting. They discussed operations
research, value engineering, diverse creativity techniques, and other company
issues dealing with quality control. The
Japanese society searched to prove these techniques which techniques were the
most effective. They concluded with the
“Seven New QC Tools.” In 1988, the seven
tools of Shigem Mizuno were introduced to the
Definition
Of the new seven quality tools, the
simplest diagram to create is the matrix diagram or sometimes called Quality
Function Deployment (QFD) (Lengnick-Hall 6). It is used to arrange large
quantities of data relating to two or more product and process problems. (Gitlow 103). The
matrix diagram helps fill the unexplained information relating to the problem.
According to an Internet article, it is used for three reasons:
1. Assigning tasks to complete a
project.
2. Make comparisons between two
different competing alternatives.
3. Prioritize combinations of new and
old activities that maximized the number of total objectives met (Matrix, 1).
Shapes and Uses
The diagram can be shaped in a few
different ways: L shaped, T shaped, X-shaped, C-shaped, or three-dimensional,
inverted Y-shaped. Each shape has its
own purpose. The L-shaped matrix is the most commonly used matrix diagram,
along with the T-shaped diagram. The
L-shaped matrix is used to show the interrelationships between two product or
process variables in a matrix format. The matrix format consisted of an
uncomplicated two-dimensional chart consisting of rows and columns. The columns are a representation of
subcategories of one variable, while the rows represent the subcategories of
the second variable. “The outcome of the
matrix signifies the possibilities of correlations between the subcategories
(Gitlow 103).” Here is an example.
My parents work in an environmental
chemistry laboratory and they want to assign their employees to several
tasks. Their goal is to rid the
confusion with distributing tasks to be done.
The problem with their organization is work is not distributed
properly. One job had multiple
employees, while another job was neglected.
My dad will develop an L-shaped matrix diagram to organize and solve the
current problem.
The diagram on the next page reads as follows:
Across the
horizontal axis in the rows above are the names of current workers. The vertical axes in the columns are the
tasks needed to be accomplished daily.
It seems that some of his employees are not doing what is required of
them based on confusion. This diagram
will lay out their duties in a simple format.
The legend explains the assignment of the employees, perhaps based on
the abilities and talents of each individual.
|
Elham |
Anne |
Betty |
|
Clean Chemical dishes |
* |
^ |
|
^ |
Research of current assignment |
* |
* |
|
* |
Computer programmer |
# |
|
* |
* |
Inspector of Laboratory |
|
* |
* |
^ |
Clean Front Office |
^ |
# |
|
|
Helper in Lab Tests |
* |
|
|
|
Secretary (answer telephones) |
^ |
^ |
|
# |
Primary responsibility |
* |
|
|
|
Secondary
Responsibility |
^ |
|
|
|
Communication
needed |
# |
|
|
|
The T-shaped matrix is used to show the relationship between two
different factors and how it relates to a third factor. It shows a combination between two L-shaped
matrix diagrams. A common application of the T-shaped matrix is to pinpoint
training requirements (Gitlow 103). The
shape is helpful to know when exploring the relationship of two
criterions.
Matrix Development Process
To construct a matrix diagram, it can
be done in the following order:
1. Select the problem
2. Form a team with 4-5 people. The team should identify the problems
existing.
3. Choose a facilitator for the
coordination of the team’s activities
4. Determine the product or process
variables to be studied
5. Decide on the matrix shape based on
the task
6. Place the information in the matrix
7. Draw the lines of the matrix
8. Determine the symbols to be
utilized. Include a legend also for the
symbol definitions
Example: * Primary Responsibility
^
Secondary Responsibility
#
Communication needed (Swift 241)
9. Enter symbols into the correct cells
10. Analyze (Gitlow 104-110)
When the last step has taken place,
studying and understanding the relationships are important for the decision
process. It is also essential to fill
the gaps between the product and the process, which will finally use the
information to resolve the problem. This
will help clarify the relationship between the factors involved.
In
conclusion, the matrix diagram is an essential tool for identifying the
relationship between two pairs. The matrix diagram is increasingly being used
in the
For more information, you can search
these websites:
http://www.usbr.gov/guide/toolbox/matrixdi.htm
http://www.sytsma.com/tqmtools/matrix.html
http://www.nirex.co.uk/publicn/peerrev/fepcnstr.htm