If control tools are indeed the skeleton of a successful project, proper applications of their data are the tendons that hold everything together. Learn now how to measure risks, fluctuation changes and defects for maximum impact on your business — and future projects.

This comprehensive guide to histograms aims to help those who are still struggling with the logic and purpose of data presented as graphical charts. Find a compilation of resource materials accordingly aligned with the use of statistical analysis for quality improvement goals in project management.

Do you use Six Sigma or is it your ultimate desire to learn more about this methodology? If so, here Bright Hub offers up the very best collection of posts, guides and how-tos on Six Sigma, the tools behind it and becoming certified. So, dig in and starting learning!

A Kaizen event requires much planning and deliberation. A block diagram that provides a graphic illustration of the process allows for a more complete analysis and infuses quality and speed into the Kaizen process. Download a sample block diagram for Kaizen events.

How do you sustain Kaizen results? Identifying opportunities for improvement and finding ways to improve processes and reduce waste is hard work; and without tracking the results of Kaizen to ensure desired objectives are met, such gains erode over time.

Kaizen or “continuous improvement" is a management philosophy that aims at improving processes by eliminating waste and making work simple, and undertaking such an effort on a sustained basis. Download a sample Kaizen form that allows for initiating Kaizen events in a structured format.

Somewhere along the line a few United States manufacturers have decided the 5S Methodology needs another element—safety. Proponents of the 5S method contend that safety is already an element so why fix what’s not broken? Here, Jean Scheid takes a look at adding the safety step making it 6S.

Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) consists of a collection of tools, needs-gathering, engineering, statistical methods, and best practices that find use in product development. There is no specified framework for designing processes using DFSS, but it remains ingrained to flexible development processes.

If you’re planning on developing Lean teams, what are the Lean Six Sigma levels of expertise hierarchy? They range from becoming a yellow belt to a master black belt and here, you’ll find the roles of each.

Getting to the root cause of problems helps in effecting a permanent fix to the issue. Any other method serves only fix the symptoms, and the problems recur. 5-Whys and Fishbone diagrams are two tools that help the project manger get to the root of the problem.

Looking for information on stratified random sampling…here’s an article that explains how this sampling method is used. Also, there’s an example that will make it easier for you to get an in-depth understanding of this sampling technique.

If you’re focused on improving work process, then the best place to get started is a spaghetti chart. Find out more about this lean process improvement tool.

Do you listen to or survey your customers? Or, are you so sure your product or service is so awesome it can entice all on its own? If the latter, it’s time to visit the voice of the customer (VOC) and utilize techniques to improve profits.

Using voice of the customer (VOC) surveys can help discover product defects, customer service issues and the experience and wants of the customer. Here, Jean Scheid offers up an example of a voice of the customer survey with a free download.

In many areas of project management, but most widely used in Six Sigma, project managers seek out the root cause of a problem via the use of a fault tree analysis diagram. What is a fault tree diagram and how is it used? Jean Scheid explains with a template.

What’s the best technique to make collaborative decisions when the list of propositions is long and team members have differing opinions? The multivoting technique is the answer. Read on to find out how…

If you want to learn about the different sampling techniques used for data collection here is an article that elaborates upon probability as well as non-probability sampling techniques. Read on to learn more about these different techniques.

In Six Sigma projects, to minimize defects and also maximize end-user satisfaction, often Kano Model usage is a way to combine quality-function-deployment (QFD) tools and chart them using a Kano analysis to improve the product. Find out how to use the Kano Model in your Six Sigma projects.