Operations Management Quality Tools.

BA 470 Chapter 2 Quality Tools Homework Assignment

Every important activity in a value stream should be measured. A run chart is common tool used to monitor these measurements over time. A run chart is alternatively called a time series chart or a trend chart. A run chart is basically a Statistical Process Control Chart without the upper and lower limits. For a run chart, the value stream measurement is displayed according to the Y axis and the time/sequence is displayed on the X axis.

A histogram is a tool to graphically display the frequency of the value stream measurements without regard for time. For a histogram, the value stream measurements are displayed on the X axis and the frequency of the measurements, according to dimensional categories, are displayed on the Y axis. The description of histogram on pages 63 and 65 in the text is misleading. These descriptions are more akin to a bar chart, or when the categories are organized from most frequent to least frequent, to a pareto chart. A correct description of histogram, also called a frequency distribution chart, can be found at ;http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/statdesc.php, under the subheading section title ;The Distribution, and including Tables 1 and 2.

When analysis of the values stream measurements using a run chart and a histogram indicate that the performance is deficient, then the potential causes for “gaps” in performance can be analyzed with a Cause-and-Effect Diagram.

When data are collected for these potential causes (or categories) of poor performance, then the data can be displayed with a Pareto chart, visually indicating the cause/categories by number or percentage, with the cause/category with the greatest number/frequency in the far left column and the cause/category with the least number/percentage in the far right column.

Instructions: ;

choose some process activity that ;has measurable data, some of the following are examples:

Waiting line to order food

Car Wash

Cashing or depositing a check at the bank

Any manufacturing process (cars, paper products, coke cans, etc.)

;Mailing systems (UPS, US Postal, FedEx)

Remember to use upper and lower limits.

After choosing some process activity which is measured, I am asking you to complete ;the following assignment deliverables. Computer generated (excel) ;submissions are accepted.

1.Create a run chart and make a ;comment about the performance.

2.Create a histogram and make a ;comment about the performance.

3. ; ;

4.Create a pareto chart based upon causes/categories of performance deficiency, and ;make a comment about the results of the analysis.

Your resources may include your own personal experience or first-hand observation, your interview of someone with personal experience or first-hand observation, an article, case study, or web site. Do not cut and paste from any source, except for brief quotations that are properly cited.