(7M or 7MP) Tools - ASQ Long Island Section

Quality Management & Planning(7M or 7MP) ToolsKerry Donelan CSSBBMeegan Dowling CSSBB1

The Seven Quality Management (7M) Tools• Affinity diagrams:– organizes ideas into meaningful categories by recognizingunderlying similarity. It is a means of data reduction inthat it organizes a large number of qualitative inputs into asmaller number of major dimensions, constructs, orcategories.• Tree diagrams:– breaks down or stratifies ideas in progressively greaterdetail. The objective is to partition a big idea or probleminto its smaller components.2

7M Tools (cont’d)• Process Decision Program charts (PDPC):– designed to help prepare contingency plans. The emphasisof PDPC is the impact of problems or issues on the project.• Matrix diagrams:– constructed to analyze the correlations between twogroups of data.• Interrelationship digraph (ID):– designed as a means of organizing disparate ideas byarranging related ideas into groups in an attempt to definethe ways in which the ideas influence one another.3

7M Tool (cont’d)• Prioritization matrices:– used to help decision makers determine the order ofimportance of the activities or goals being considered.• Activity Network diagram:– used to determine which activities are to be performed,when they must be performed, and in what order.4

Affinity Diagram• Affinity diagram is a way to organize a largeset of ideas• Very helpful for any team with abrainstorming session, when analyzinginformation• Encourages the participation of all in thegroup• Similar items can be categorized and centralthemes emerge5

Affinity Exercise• Each person write out 5 post it notes quicklywith requirements you have for your nextvacation. Do not discuss with others in yourgroup• After everyone has 5 done – put them out onthe table or flip chart• As a group organize them into clusters• Apply a heading to each cluster/group

Affinity Diagram

Tree Diagram• A systematic method to outline all thedetails needed to complete a givenobjective.• Partition a big idea or problem into itssmaller components.8

Tree DiagramInternet searchPlan vacationIdentifylocationsMake decisionChoose hotelMake hotelreservationGet family buyinClothing andshoesPackGet suitcasestoilettriesActivities andgamesworkGet time offGo on familyvacationPrepareschoolMailHold at postofficeTake Care ofhousepetsGet pet sitternewspapersTurn offdeliverycarmaintenanceGet gasTransportationtaxiplaneBudget $SaveOpen vacationaccountDirect deposit

Process Decision Program Chart(PDPC)• Used to chart the course of events thatwill take us from a start point to our finalcomplex goal.• Designed to help prepare contingencyplans.• The emphasis of PDPC is the impact ofthe “failures” (problems) on projectschedules.10

PDPC ChartInternet searchPlan vacationIdentifylocationsMake decisionChoose hotelMake hotelreservationGet family buyinClothing andshoesShorts don’tfitPackGet suitcasestoilettriesActivities andgamesNeedshampooGoshoppingworkGet time offGo on familyvacationPrepareschoolMailHold at postofficeUsekennelTake Care ofhousepetsGet pet sitterSitter notavailnewspapersTurn offdeliverycarDomaintenanceGet gasTransportationtaxiplaneDon’t havetimeCallgarageBudget $SaveOpen vacationaccountDirect depositNot enough$Get Credit

Matrix Diagram• Is used to show the relationship betweenobjectives and methods, results and causes,tasks and people, etc.• Used to determine strength ofrelationships between a grid of rows andcolumns• Can identify key aspects based onrelationships12

Matrix diagram -- relationshipSafety Cost ClimateLocation / traveltimeactivitiesaccommodationsplanning◙ ▲ ◙ ◙ ◙ ◙budgeting ◙ ○ ◙ ◙preparing ▲ ▲ ○◙ strong relationship○ relationship▲ possible relationship

Matrix diagram -- resourcesResources: Mom Dad KidsTasksshopcar maintenancepack clothingstop mailpack gamessave◙◙◙ ▲ ▲◙◙○ ○ ○◙ Primary responsibility○ Team member▲ Resource

Interrelationship Digraph• Interrelationship digraph (ID): designed as ameans of evaluating the ways in whichdisparate ideas influence one another. Usedto identify the critical issues and key driversof a problem.• Often uses input from other tools: affinitydiagram or fishbone.15

Steps to Create Solution Prioritization Matrix:#1: Create a list of 'want' criteria (CTQs)#2: Weight the list of 'want' criteria (CTQs) on a scale of 1 to 10#3: Compare the list of solutions to the weighted criteria (CTQs) and score on a scale of 1, 3, or 9#4: Multiply the weight by the score for each criteria to get the weighted score for each criteria (CTQs)#5: Compute and discuss the total scores for each solutionCriteria and Weights1 2 3 4 5 6PotentialSolutionsCriteria →CTQ Weight (1-10) →SafetyCost lessthan 2.5KClimate warm,not hotFamilyActivitiesLocation /travel time lessthan 5 hoursAccommodations -- pool, food,comfortTotalAtlantis in the Bahamas0Lake George0Outer Banks, NC0Niagara Falls0Cruise to Caribbean0Rate each Solution to the weighted Criteria on a scale of 1, 3, or 91 = low, 3 = moderate, 9 = high0

Activity Network Diagram• Graphic project time-line• Identifies critical tasks to be monitored• Team can identify resources, bottlenecks,and timetables20

Activity NetworkDiagramPlanPrepare6000 602160 81days00 60days120 141ExecuteGo onVacation7days81 88141 148Budget75days00 7500 75TimeESLSEFLF

Summary• The Affinity Diagram is a useful brainstorming tool and willenergize your team.• The Interrelationship Digraph comes in handy when the teamneeds to agree on the most likely cause(s) and effect(s)contributors.• The Prioritization, Matrix, PDPC, Tree and Activity NetworkDiagrams are effective planning tools as they help the teambuild consensus on priorities, relationships and identify theelements required for effective execution of a given plan.• Start by taking small steps with the Affinity Diagram and theInterrelationship Diagraph. They are both fun tools to use.22