The Quality Toolbox

The Quality Toolbox
Author: Nancy Tague
Publisher: Quality Press
Total Pages: 625
Release: 2004-07-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1953079008

The Quality Toolbox is a comprehensive reference to a variety of methods and techniques: those most commonly used for quality improvement, many less commonly used, and some created by the author and not available elsewhere. The reader will find the widely used seven basic quality control tools (for example, fishbone diagram, and Pareto chart) as well as the newer management and planning tools. Tools are included for generating and organizing ideas, evaluating ideas, analyzing processes, determining root causes, planning, and basic data-handling and statistics. The book is written and organized to be as simple as possible to use so that anyone can find and learn new tools without a teacher. Above all, this is an instruction book. The reader can learn new tools or, for familiar tools, discover new variations or applications. It also is a reference book, organized so that a half-remembered tool can be found and reviewed easily, and the right tool to solve a particular problem or achieve a specific goal can be quickly identified. With this book close at hand, a quality improvement team becomes capable of more efficient and effective work with less assistance from a trained quality consultant. Quality and training professionals also will find it a handy reference and quick way to expand their repertoire of tools, techniques, applications, and tricks. For this second edition, Tague added 34 tools and 18 variations. The "Quality Improvement Stories" chapter has been expanded to include detailed case studies from three Baldrige Award winners. An entirely new chapter, "Mega-Tools: Quality Management Systems," puts the tools into two contexts: the historical evolution of quality improvement and the quality management systems within which the tools are used. This edition liberally uses icons with each tool description to reinforce for the reader what kind of tool it is and where it is used within the improvement process.

Cause and Effect Diagrams

Cause and Effect Diagrams
Author: Joiner Associates
Publisher: Oriel Incorporated
Total Pages: 144
Release: 1995
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 9781884731099

Many problem-solving efforts have little or no effect because we fail to adequately study the causes of the problem. Cause-and-effect diagrams are tools that help us track down and eliminate the conditions that cause the problem. This guide covers what cause-and-effect diagrams are, when to use them, and how to create them. Other titles in the 'Plain & Simple' Series include: * Data Collection (7.2 JOI 1) * Pareto Charts (7.2 JOI 3) * How To Graph (7.2. JOI 2) * Flowcharts (7.2. JOI 8) * Frequency Plots (7.2. JOI 6) * Scatter Plots (7.2. JOI 9) * Time Plots (7.2. JOI 7) * Individuals Charts (7.2. JOI 4) * Cause-And-Effect Diagrams (7.2. JOI 5) * Defect Tile Cards and Process Tile Cards.

Fundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement

Fundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement
Author: Amitava Mitra
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 802
Release: 2021-04-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1119692334

The newest edition of an insightful and practical statistical approach to quality control and management In the newly revised and thoroughly updated Fifth Edition of Fundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement, accomplished academic, consultant, and author Dr. Amitava Mitra delivers a comprehensive and quantitative approach to quality management techniques. The book demonstrates how to integrate statistical concepts with quality assurance methods, incorporating modern ideas, strategies, and philosophies of quality management. You'll discover experimental design concepts and the use of the Taguchi method to incorporate customer needs, improve lead time, and reduce costs. The new edition also includes brand-new case studies at the end of several chapters, references to the statistical software Minitab 19, and chapter updates that add discussions of trending and exciting topics in quality control. The book includes access to supplementary material for instructors consisting of a new instructor's solutions manual and PowerPoint slides, as well as access to data sets for all readers. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the evolution of quality and definitions of quality, quality control, quality assurance, quality circles, and quality improvement teams An exploration of customer needs and market share, as well as the benefits of quality control and the total quality system Practical discussions of quality and reliability, quality improvement, product and service costing, and quality costs A concise treatment of how to measure quality costs, the management of quality, and the interrelationship between quality and productivity Perfect for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in quality control and improvement, the Fifth Edition of Fundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement will also earn a place in the libraries of business students and those undertaking training programs in Six Sigma.

The Innovation Tools Handbook, Volume 2

The Innovation Tools Handbook, Volume 2
Author: H. James Harrington
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 453
Release: 2016-08-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 149876052X

In today’s fast-moving, high-technology environment, the focus on quality has given way to a focus on innovation. From presidents of the United States to presidents of Fortune 500 companies, it is clear that everyone thinks innovation is extremely important. The challenge is that few people stop to define why innovation is important—to understand what’s driving the need for more innovation. We all agree that more frequent innovation is important, even necessary. There is actually a growing body of evidence that indicates that looking outside of your company (rather than purely looking internally) and to customers’ needs, using the tools in this Handbook, will lead to more innovative ideas. Responding to customers’ needs is the key to a successful business. You can use these tools to talk to customers—satisfied ones, unsatisfied ones, potential customers, people who would never buy your product or service, and also people you have never considered as a potential customer. In addition, these tools will help you ask your competitors’ customers about what makes them happy with the current businesses and offerings in the industry, why they buy or do not buy from you, your competitors, and other industries. These tools will help you understand the steps in the customer journey they need to take, what delights and frustrates them, and what their pain points are. The three volumes of The Innovation Tools Handbook cover 76 top-rated tools and methods, from the hundreds available, that every innovator must master to be successful. Covering evolutionary and/or improvement innovative tools and methodologies, Volume 2 presents 23 tools/methodologies related to innovative evolutionary products, processes, and services, or the improvement of existing ones. For each tool, the book provides a definition, identifies the user of the tool, explains what phases of the innovation process the tool is used, describes how the tool is used, supplies examples of the outputs from the tool, identifies software that can maximize its effectiveness, and includes references and suggestions for further reading. Ideation is about developing ideas on how to seize identified opportunities. What are the possible answers to your breakthrough questions? Having a deep understanding about the customer, their needs and pain points, as well as the existing solutions (i.e. business models in the industry) will naturally lead to new ideas. How seriously you do your discovery homework using the tools in these Handbooks will determine not only how fast you create ideas, but about how likely these ideas are to succeed. Tools and methodologies covered include: 5 why questions, Affinity diagrams, attribute listing, brainwriting 6–3–5, cause-and-effect diagrams, creative problem solving model, design for tools, flowcharting, force field analysis, Kano analysis, nominal group technique, plan–do–check–act, reengineering/redesign, reverse engineering, robust design, SCAMPER, simulations, six thinking hats, social networks, solution analysis diagrams, statistical analysis, tree diagram, and value analysis. The authors believe that by making effective use of the tools and methodologies presented in this book, your organization can increase the percentage of creative/innovative ideas by five to eight times its present performance level.

Design for Trustworthy Software

Design for Trustworthy Software
Author: Bijay K. Jayaswal
Publisher: Pearson Education
Total Pages: 850
Release: 2006-08-31
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0132797356

ASQ 2007 CROSBY MEDAL WINNER! An Integrated Technology for Delivering Better Software—Cheaper and Faster! This book presents an integrated technology, Design for Trustworthy Software (DFTS), to address software quality issues upstream such that the goal of software quality becomes that of preventing bugs in implementation rather than finding and eliminating them during and after implementation. The thrust of the technology is that major quality deployments take place before a single line of code is written! This customer-oriented integrated technology can help deliver breakthrough results in cost, quality, and delivery schedule thus meeting and exceeding customer expectations. The authors describe the principles behind the technology as well as their applications to actual software design problems. They present illustrative case studies covering various aspects of DFTS technology including CoSQ, AHP, TRIZ, FMEA, QFD, and Taguchi Methods and provide ample questions and exercises to test the readers understanding of the material in addition to detailed examples of the applications of the technology. The book can be used to impart organization-wide learning including training for DFTS Black Belts and Master Black Belts. It helps you gain rapid mastery, so you can deploy DFTS Technology quickly and successfully. Learn how to • Plan, build, maintain, and improve your trustworthy software development system • Adapt best practices of quality, leadership, learning, and management for the unique software development milieu • Listen to the customer’s voice, then guide user expectations to realizable, reliable software products • Refocus on customer-centered issues such as reliability, dependability, availability, and upgradeability • Encourage greater design creativity and innovation • Validate, verify, test, evaluate, integrate, and maintain software for trustworthiness • Analyze the financial impact of software quality • Prepare your leadership and infrastructure for DFTS Design for Trustworthy Software will help you improve quality whether you develop in-house, outsource, consult, or provide support. It offers breakthrough solutions for the entire spectrum of software and quality professionals—from developers to project leaders, chief software architects to customers. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is the world's leading authority on quality which provides a community that advances learning, quality improvement, and knowledge exchange to improve business results, and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide. The Crosby Medal is presented to the individual who has authored a distinguished book contributing significantly to the extension of the philosophy and application of the principles, methods, or techniques of quality management. Bijay K. Jayaswal, CEO of Agilenty Consulting Group, has held senior executive positions and consulted on quality and strategy for 25 years. His expertise includes value engineering, process improvement, and product development. He has directed MBA and Advanced Management programs, and helped to introduce enterprise-wide reengineering and Six Sigma initiatives. Dr. Peter C. Patton, Chairman of Agilenty Consulting Group, is Professor of Quantitative Methods and Computer Science at the University of St. Thomas. He served as CIO of the University of Pennsylvania and CTO at Lawson Software, and has been involved with software development since 1955.

Lean and Agile Project Management

Lean and Agile Project Management
Author: Terra Vanzant Stern, PhD
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 355
Release: 2020-04-30
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1000064840

When project managers are faced with budget cuts and fewer resources, waste elimination becomes a priority in maintaining effectiveness. This does not mean shortening or abandoning traditional project cycles. In fact, fast results on critical assignments can only be completed with strong plans and a detailed work breakdown structure. The connections, or lack thereof, are what strongly impact performance and quality. Lean and Agile, as covered in this book, are meant to enhance traditional project management, not replace the science. A strong foundation in traditional project management is necessary to appreciate the benefits of adopting Lean and Agile. Lean and Agile Project Management: How to Make Any Project Better, Faster, and More Cost Effective defines the wastes and issues found in project management and demonstrates how they can be addressed by engaging Lean thinking and Agile techniques. This book also: • Shows how to apply Lean principles to project management (PM) • Teaches the application of simple Six Sigma metrics in PM • Discusses the adoption of Agile techniques in PM in order to stay on task and remain flexible • Helps readers discover the theoretical synergies between popular PM programs • Promotes an understanding of how Lean people skills can help a person become a better leader and manager Since the publication of the first edition of this book, the bodies of knowledge have all been systematically updated. In addition, through conducting peer groups and detailed workshops, the Author has simplified many of the basics, and they are now much easier to understand. Essentially, the Author believes traditional project management can benefit from adding Lean and Agile, but she has simplified the model for greater efficiency.

PMP: Project Management Professional Exam Review Guide

PMP: Project Management Professional Exam Review Guide
Author: Kim Heldman
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 459
Release: 2018-01-17
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1119421128

Essential review for the PMP exam, updated for the new PMBOK® Guide, 6th edition The PMP Project Management Professional Exam Review Guide, Fourth Edition, offers complete, concise review of essential project management concepts and practices. Covering 100% of the PMP exam objectives, this book helps you ensure your full preparation in advance of the big day. This new 4th Edition has been updated to align with the newest version of the exam, featuring changes to PMP best practices, greater emphasis on Agile and other iterative processes, as well as the evolution of the project manager's role. Organized by domain area, this handy review guide covers project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closing as detailed in the new A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide), 6th Edition, giving you clear guidance on what you need to know for the exam. You also get a year of free access to the Sybex online interactive learning environment and study tools, which features flashcards, chapter tests, two bonus practice exams, and more. PMP candidates must have extensive project management experience before taking the exam, but you cannot rely on experience alone; the PMP exam tests your understanding of critical PMP concepts and practices as laid out in the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition; this practical review condenses the PMBOK's essential details into quickly-digestible chapters that help you prepare more efficiently. Review 100% of the exam objectives Apply PMP concepts to real-world scenarios Identify areas in need of additional review Access practice exams, flashcards, and more The PMP certification puts you in demand, and can be a major boost to your career. Regardless of your current level of experience, exam success lies in complete and thorough preparation; the PMP Project Management Professional Exam Review Guide, Fourth Edition, is your ultimate key to confidence and success. To register for access to the online test banks included with the purchase of this book, please visit: www.wiley.com/go/sybextestprep.

Software Project Management

Software Project Management
Author: Moh’d A. Radaideh
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 536
Release: 2023-12-18
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3111206866

Software Project Management (SPM) differs from the Traditional Project Management (PM) approaches in that Software Engineering requires multiple rounds of Software Testing, and Updating in accordance with their Testing results and their customer’s feedback. Thus, SPM introduces unique life cycle processes.This book presents an introduction and a critical analysis of the main Software Project Management Frameworks, and offers the author’s original approach to SPM as developed by him over years of professional and teaching experience in the Academia and the IT/Software Industry. It also provides Executive Summaries of the Project Management and Software Project Management Perspectives offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the IEEE-Computer Society (IEEE-CS), and the SCRUM Project Management Bodies such as the SCRUMstudy.