7 highly effective tools for boosting Quality Management as per ISO 9001 directives

As the most widely acclaimed Quality Management standard, ISO 9001 stands today as the highest accredited quality benchmark worldwide.

The reason behind its prominent status in the industry is its precision and comprehensiveness. It has been repeatedly amended as to include all the broad and simple guidelines for the development of integrated methodologies for judicious strategic management and hassle-free overall development of a Quality Management System in any organization.

Unquestionably, all businesses come across endless procedural logjams while implementing the desired ISO standards. One cannot anticipate the number or intensity of the technical hindrances that may impede the entire process of execution of ISO 9001:2015 certification.

However, the goal of attainment of the desired QMS and its upkeep can be realized using 7 basics tools.

These 7 tools are based on the recognized QMS strategies such as PDCA cycles and Six Sigma etc. and are aimed at continuous enhancement of the ISO 9001 QMS.

#1. Which are the 7 tools for improvement of ISO 9001 QMS?

The 7 basic tools for improvement of the Quality Management System are as follows:

1. Flowchart
2. Cause & Effect diagram
3. Checksheet
4. Pareto chart
5. Histogram
6. Scatter diagram
7. Control chart

#2. What is a flowchart used for?

The objective of a flowchart is to get a panoramic view of a process. It is used for getting an overview of different involved in a process and a clear notion of what exactly is happening.

#3. When is a flowchart used?

A flowchart is used throughout the process to detect the key problem areas and trace unnecessary loopholes that impede the normal course of QMS enhancement.

#4. How to construct a flowchart?

A few basic concepts have to be considered for constructing a flowchart:

• Every process has a starting and ending point.
• Throughout the process, various complex processes, problem areas, unnecessary loops and key decision points to combat them are identified. These are denoted using different symbols.    

#5. What is a Cause & Effect diagram?

The Cause & Effect diagram, also known as the Ishikawa or ‘fish-bone’ diagram, is a much-simplified tool used to identify all causes that relate to a certain effect or defect in a process and for aiding in a brainstorming session to wipe out the problem.

The Cause & Effect diagram is constructed to detect all causes of a problem when a necessary action has to be taken to reach the desired outcome.  

#6. How to make a Cause & Effect diagram?

Following steps are involved while construction of a Cause & Effect diagram:

All the causes that relate to a certain effect are placed at the head of the fish-bone skeleton as shown below-

• Main categories of causes are placed at various bones (branches) of the fish.
• These causes are then brainstormed to detect the contributory cause and to chalk out a solution to it.

#7. What is a Checksheet used for?

A Checksheet is used for collecting data related to an activity in such a manner that it is easily discernible and analyzed.

#8. When is a Checksheet used?

A Checksheet is made when-

• A certain cause of a problem occurs multiple times.
• Each type of problem serves a different function.

#9. How to draw a Checksheet?

A Checksheet is made in accordance with the FMEA principle that is a crucial strategy in ISO 9001 implementation. Following are the steps involved in the construction of a Checksheet:

• Identify all types of faults.
• Make a Record of these faults each time they happen. This will further assist in the brainstorming of these causes of a defect.

#10. What is a Pareto chart used for?

A Pareto chart is used for assessing of relative importance of various causes of the defect.

#11. When is a Pareto chart made?

A Pareto chart is made in accordance with the FMEA principle for implementation of ISO 9001 QMS. it is used to-

• Trace the type of cause that happens most frequently.
• To rank all the causes from those with most occurrence to the ones with least occurrence.  
• As per one of the postulates of the Pareto analysis, about 80% of the total problem is caused due to 20% of causes.

#12. How is a Pareto chart made?

Following steps are involved while construction of a Pareto chart:

• Firstly, choose a comparative unit and record it on the Y-axis.
• Record all the different classified causes on the X-axis starting from the most frequent cause on the left to the least frequent cause on the right.

#13. What is a Histogram used for?

A histogram is a form of bar diagram that is intended to analyze the data that is to be arranged in different groups.

#14. When is a Histogram used?

A Histogram is used when there is a large amount of data needed to be analyzed.

#15. How to construct a Histogram?

• Firstly, choose a measurement unit and an appropriate range.
• Plot the measurement range on the Y-axis.
• Plot the measurement range on the X-axis.

#16. What is a scatter diagram?

A scatter diagram is a graphical notation used to see if there is a relation between 2 distinct causes of a problem.

#17. When is a scatter diagram used?

The scatter diagram is constructed to analyze if-

• There is any relationship between two or more measurements.
• There is any measurement changes another.

#18. How to construct a scatter diagram?

Given below are the steps involved while construction of a scatter diagram:

• Select 2 measurements that are related to each other.
• Plot one measurement on the Y-axis and another one on X-axis as the data appears.

#19. What is a control chart used for?

The control chart is used to assess the acceptable variations of measurements.

#20. When is a control chart used?

A control chart is used to-

• Determine a problem within a process.
• Determine if there is a problem outside the limit of the process.

#21. How to construct a control chart?

To draw a control chart,

• Construct a line to represent the upper limit, above which the measurement is not acceptable.
• Similarly, construct a line to represent the lower limit, below which the measurement is not acceptable.

#22. How to select the appropriate tool for improvement of ISO 9001 QMS?

The ISO certification emphasizes certain parameters for correct usage of tools for QMS enhancement. Before selecting any of the aforesaid tools, you must focus on the following questions:

• What do you want to measure?
• What do you want to achieve?
• What form has the data taken?
• What do you want to do with the outcome?

This can really help you attain the desired result of the chosen strategy.

Watch the complete on these 7 tools for ISO QMS Enhancement.

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