As a project manager I believe you all use various tools and techniques to control the quality in your project. As a project manager you should be aware of all the tools and techniques used. You should be aware which quality tools to be used and when? By whom and how? Many project managers fail to control the quality in their project as they chose the wrong tools and techniques for their project. As a project manager you should pick the correct tools for the quality control and for this you need to know the basic attributes of all the quality tools mainly Ishikawa’s seven basic tools of quality. Let me explain you these tools one by one:

Cause and effect diagram:
It is popularly known as Fishbone diagram (as it looks like a fishbone) or sometimes known as Ishikawa’s diagram. It is frequently used to find the root causes of the defects. Whether the main issues are from hardware or it is from the software. Whether the problem is from management or the problem is from skill set of the people. By analyzing these you can get the root cause of the defects, that’s why it is also known as root cause analysis. If you are managing a long term project you should use this quality tool at the utmost.

Pareto Chart:
80% of problems are due to 20% of the root causes. It is like prioritizing the defects. Search for the main reason and try to reduce the maximum problems. This is frequently used when you are in hurry and you have to reduce the defects… as a project manager you should know by which factors you are getting more problems and document it and try to find out a way to remove these defects as by removing the same defects you will be able to reduce maximum problems. It is based on the Joseph Juran’s 80/20 principle. Pareto recommends that this tool can be very useful if you are getting many errors frequently. As a project manager you should detect an error which can resolve your maximum problems.

Control Chart:
 It is not possible to standardize the sizes, weights of the deliverables. Instead you can decide your upper limit and lower limit of acceptance. That upper and lower control limit is decided by project manager and other stakeholders. If the variables are within the limit, the project will be treated ‘in control’. There is a line in the middle of the control chart which is known as ‘mean’. It represents the middle of the range of an acceptable variation. If seven variables are found in one side of the mean, it is known as rule of seven and the project will be treated as ‘out of control’. There is also upper and lower specification limit which are decided by the end customers only.

Histogram:
It is a graphical representation showing a visual impression of the distribution of data. It displays data in the form of bars and columns. It shows what problems are in your project.

Run Chart: 
It shows the trends of variations. If you need to assess the variable you need to check your progress chart. You have to see the patterns of the variations.

Flowchart:
It shows how the systems or processes flow from beginning to end and how are they related to each other. Through it you can assess a particular process and analyze the potential quality problems. It is an important tool to be used in so many project management activities.

Scatter Diagram: 
It is like trying to trace the relation between two variables. Like due to one defect another defect is created maintaining a relationship. Apart from the above-mentioned tools there are some other tools available that can be used as a quality tool like statistical sampling. It is frequently used when you are working on a bulk volume where time does not permit you to cross check each and every deliverables. To save money on your project and time consuming on your project, you picked randomly few deliverables and check the quality of those deliverables. If it is up to the mark, the entire lot could be delivered.

About the Author

Pradip, PMPPradip, PMP

Pradip Dwevedi, PMP is currently the Lead PMP Trainer / Corporate Trainer at Reputed Global R.E.P.s, India and also the Head – Project Management at Invida Trans IT Solutions PVT LTD. Prior to this, he was Divisional Manager at Stylo Graphic Imaging and before this he was working as Facilitator/Team Leader at Aptara

View More

Find PMP® Certification Training in these cities

PMP Certification Training Course in AtlantaPMP Certification Training Course in AustinPMP Certification Training Course in BostonPMP Certification Training Course in CharlottePMP Certification Training Course in ChicagoPMP Certification Training Course in ClevelandPMP Certification Training Course in DallasPMP Certification Training Course in DenverPMP Certification Training Course in DetroitPMP Certification Training Course in FargoPMP Certification Training Course in HoustonPMP Certification Training Course in IrvingPMP Certification Training Course in Jersey cityPMP Certification Training Course in Las VegasPMP Certification Training Course in Los AngelesPMP Certification Training Course in MiamiPMP Certification Training Course in Mountain ViewPMP Certification Training Course in NashvillePMP Certification Training Course in New York CityPMP Certification Training Course in Orange CountyPMP Certification Training Course in OrlandoPMP Certification Training Course in PhiladelphiaPMP Certification Training Course in PhoenixPMP Certification Training Course in PittsburghPMP Certification Training Course in PleasantonPMP Certification Training Course in PortlandPMP Certification Training Course in RaleighPMP Certification Training Course in RochesterPMP Certification Training Course in San DiegoPMP Certification Training Course in San FranciscoPMP Certification Training Course in San JosePMP Certification Training Course in SeattlePMP Certification Training Course in TampaPMP Certification Training Course in Washington
  • Disclaimer
  • PMP, PMI, PMBOK, CAPM, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PBA, RMP, SP, and OPM3 are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.