Problem Solving Tools

There are seven (7) problem solving tools used to correct situations that can arise on the factory floor, Insurance office, hospital, high school, local city government or for that matter any where/ any place. These 7 tools have been around a long time and are the basis for data collection and analysis for solving problems that lead to continuous improvement and reducing costs associated with problems.

They are:

1. Check sheets
2. Histograms
3. Flow charts
4. Scatter Diagrams
5. Parento Diagrams
6. Cause and Effect Diagrams
7. Control charts

We will go over each tool and give example of how they can be used to solve problems and reduce costs. We also cover tools that have been defined as the “Management and Planning Tools” developed in the recent years such as:

• Quality Cost Analysis
• Affinity Diagrams
• Tree Diagrams
• Process Decision Program Charts
• Matrix Diagrams
• Interrelationship Graphs
• Prioritization Matrices
• Activity Network Diagrams

These new tools allow for more identification, planning, and coordination in problem solution. The next step to drive Continuous Improvement is Root Cause Analysis.