Continuous improvement – more advanced, including Taguchi and Six Sigma

Seven additional qualitative methods tools may be used as part of quality function deployment (see Chapter 6) or to improve processes. These do not replace the basic systematic tools described in the previous chapter, neither are they extensions of these; rather they are systems and documentation methods used to achieve success in design by identifying objectives and intermediate steps in the finest detail. The seven ‘new tools’ are:

1. Affinity diagram. 2. Interrelationship diagraph. 3. Tree diagram. 4. Matrix diagram or quality table. 5. Matrix data analysis. 6. Process decision programme chart (PDPC). 7. Arrow diagram.