SWOT Analysis
What?
SWOT analysis is a simple tool and is used for assessing both - an organization and an individual.
SWOT is an acronym for:-
1. Strengths
2. Weaknesses
3. Opportunities
4. Threats
Why?
1. It helps to assess an organization or an individual
2. It helps to identify major areas of improvements for the organization or an individual
When?
1. When assessing the organization to determine the short and long terms goals
2. When assessing a candidate during an interview
3. When evaluating an employee during appraisals
Scatter Plot
What?
A scatter plot, also called a scatter diagram or a scatter gram, is a basic graphic tool that illustrates the relationship between two variables. The dots on the scatter plot represent data points.
The variables may be a process output (Y) and a factor affecting it (X), two factors affecting a Y (two Xs), or two related process outputs (two Ys).
It is used with continues and discrete data.
Why?
1. It helps in determine if there is any relationship between two variables.
2. It helps to determine whether trends exist between two or more sets of data.
3. It helps to identify potential root causes of a problem.
When?
1. When the dependent variable has multiple values for each of the independent variable.
2. After Cause and Effect analysis to confirm if a particular cause and effect are related
3. When determining if two effects occur due to the same cause.
4. When testing for correlation between two variables before constructing a control chart.
Run Chart
What?
A run chart is a graphical tool that allows viewing the variation in a process over time. The patterns in the run chart can help identify the presence of special cause variation.
Why?
1. The patterns in the run chart allow seeing if special causes are influencing the process.
2. It helps to identify Xs affecting the process.
3. It helps to identify if there are any trends, patterns, cycles or changes in the average data.
When?
1. When monitoring a continues variable over time.
2. When monitoring process stability after Hypothesis Test.
3. When a quick preliminary analysis is required to find obvious problems.
4. When there are insufficient points to plot a control chart.
Process Capability
What
Process Capability refers to the ability of a process to produce products or services in a controlled manner of production or service environment.
Lesser the number of defects, higher the process capability.
Specification limits define what results meet customer needs. This graph demonstrates a process that is capable of delivering a product that meets specification 100% of the time.
Various indicators like Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk are used to address overall performance potential performance.
Why
1. It helps to measure how well a process can meet requirements i.e. how capable a process is.
2. It helps to compare two processes to determine which one is better.
3. It helps to monitor improvements in process performance over time
When
1. When the process I in statistical control.
2. When the process outputs forms a normal distribution
3. When measuring the ‘as-is” state of a process before/during a project and after the completion of the project.
4. When communicating process performance to management/customers.
Pareto Chart
What?
A Pareto chart is a graphing tool that prioritizes a list of variables or factors based on impact or frequency of occurrence. This chart is based on the Pareto principle, which states that typically 80% of the defects in a process or product are caused by only 20% of the possible causes
The Pareto chart does not detect small differences between categories and requires only continuos and discrete data.
Why?
1. It is easy to interpret and a convenient communication tool
2. It identifies “vital few” and “trivial many” possible Xs.
3. It helps to prioritize which Xs should be attacked first.
When?
1. When analysing frequency of problems.
2. When assessing the relative impact of different factors.
3. When stratifying Voice of Customer.
4. When there are multiple problems and requires prioritization.
Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
What?
Measurement system analysis also known as Gage R & R and R & R Study is a tool which analyses the variation in a process due to the measurement system. These variations are allocated in two categories:-
1. Repeatability - variation obtained from successive measurements using the same instrument or device.
2. Reproducibility - variation obtained due to different people taking the measurements.
Why?
1. It helps to reduce variation.
2. It helps to standardize measurement procedures.
When?
1. When the measurements are done using an instrument or device.
2. Before studying the total process variation.
3. Before computing process capability.
4. When selecting best measurement instrument or device.
HISTOGRAM
What?
A histogram is a tool that displays the relative frequency or occurrence of data values. It illustrates the shape, centring, and spread of data distribution and indicates whether there are any outliers. The frequency of occurrence is displayed on the y-axis, where the height of each bar indicates the number of occurrences for that interval (or class) of data. Classes of data are displayed on the x-axis. The grouping of data into classes is the distinguishing feature of a histogram.
This tool can be used only if the data is numerical
Why?
1. It allows visualizing large quantities of data.
2. It helps to assess the distribution of data and the variation that exists in the process.
3. It leads towards possible Xs
4. It helps to characterize and confirm solutions
5. It helps to track and maintain improvements.
When?
1. When evaluating distribution of data over different categories.
2. When studying/analysing data distribution and shape of data distribution.
3. When analysing, if the output of a process is distributed normally.
4. When determining if the outputs of two or more processes are different.
5. When analysing if the desired outputs can be met.
Gantt Chart
What?
Gantt Chart is a tool which displays tasks and milestones in form of bars. The starting point of the bar is the start date of the task or milestone and the end point of the bar is the ending date of the task or milestone.
Why?
1. It helps to visually display progress on task and milestones
When?
1. When defining the Goal or Deliverable Statement in a Project Charter
2. When determining sub-goals
3. When signing off on Goal or Deliverable Statement
Failure Mode & Effect Analysis (FMEA)
What?
FMEA is an acronym for Failure Modes and Effects analysis and is a very powerful tool.
It is a risk assessment tool used to identify all potential failure modes which could lead to the process or product not meeting its customer requirements.
FMEA focuses on preventing failures from occurring and should they occur, they should be easily detectable as early as possible.
FMEA is an ongoing activity
There are three types of FMEA:-
1. System FMEA
2. Process FMEA
3. Design FMEA
Why?
1. It helps to identify all potential failure modes due to which the process can fail to meet customer requirements
2. In the DMAIC methodology, it is used to prioritize the Xs based on how severe the consequences of the failure modes are, their frequency of occurrence and how easy or difficult it is to detect them
3. It can also be used for mistake proofing
When?
1. When designing or redesigning a process or product
2. In the DMAIC methodology, after the Cause and Effect Tools
3. Before or after developing control plans for a process or a product
4. When improving current products or processes
Click here to download the FMEA Template
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