The term “new quality management tool” refers to previously unused tools that teams put to use to consistently achieve expected outcomes.
The original seven new quality management tools came about in 1976. The Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) wanted to develop new tools that could better handle planning for major projects, communicate information throughout an organization and promote innovation. They developed seven new tools, each providing its own advantages.
Taken together, the seven new quality management tools organize data, generate ideas, improve planning, eliminate errors, and help explain problems. They also allow teams to assess situations from a variety of angles, prioritize tasks, work systematically, anticipate future events and get things right the first time.
Affinity diagrams: The affinity diagram allows teams to gather large amounts of data – including ideas and opinions – and organize it into groups based on natural relationships. This makes further analysis much more feasible.
Tree diagrams: The tree diagram helps to move data from the general to the specific, creating more finely grained analysis that breaks down information into sub-categories. This leads to better strategies for addressing problems.
PDPC: The Process Decision Program Chart contains a list of steps linked together in sequence that show the events likely to occur by putting a new process into place. They are helpful to analyze solutions in a situation that is fluid or uncertain.
Matrix diagrams: A matrix diagram depicts the relationship between multiple groups of information and is designed to show the relative strengths and weaknesses of these relationships. A matrix diagram can also make the overall structure of a problem immediately clear.
Interrelationship digraphs: An interrelationship diagram or digraphs breaks down a complex situation by showing the cause-and-effect relationship between critical functions in a complicated process. They are most useful at the planning stage and offer a clearer view of the potential issues in a complex process.
Prioritization matrices: A prioritization matrix is designed to help teams select the best choice from a range of options. It is an L-shaped matrix that makes comparisons between established criteria and options using an evaluation based on numerical data
Activity network diagram: Also known as an arrow diagram, an Activity network diagram shows the relationship between tasks needed to implement a process. It helps teams determine the best scheduling for a process and identify any potential problems.
