Savage
TQM
Fall 2013
Assignment 12 – Chapter 8 “Quality Improvement Tools”
Answer the following questions for the material in Chapter 8:
1. Distinguish between a symptom and a problem giving examples of each. Which of the two should the problem solving process focus on?
2. Distinguish between the three (I, II, and III) types of problem solving errors.
3. List and briefly describe each of the eight steps in the problem solving process adapted from the work of Kepner and Tregoe (1965), Osborn (1963), and Parnes et al. (1977).
4. List the seven tools of quality management and briefly describe the purpose of each tool. Note that there is a mistake in Figure 8.3 on page 183. In the cause and effect diagram, the word “cause” to the far right should be “effect.”
5. This question relates to the scatter diagram. Because of your knowledge of regression, you can do a similar but much more sophisticated analysis in place of the scatter diagram – multiple regression analysis. Suppose that there are three potential causes (A, B, and C) of a particular effect (E). You gather data and complete a multiple regression analysis with the following results: A has a beta of .086 with a calculated significance level of .182; B has a beat of .561 with a calculated significance level of .000; C has a beta of .116 with a calculated significance level of .156. Which of the causes is the “root cause” of the effect (problem)? Support your decision with the regression results.
6. What is the difference between a run chart and a control chart?
7. What are the main purposes of a flow chart? Why might creating flow charts of the major processes for which you are responsible be a good idea when you start a new job?
8. Look at the cause and effect chart on page 191. See the four categories of causes: Machine, Materials, Manpower, and Methods. You know that the SAU School of Business is AACSB accredited. Reaffirmation of accreditation requires that faculty members stay current
Fall 2013
Assignment 12 – Chapter 8 “Quality Improvement Tools”
Answer the following questions for the material in Chapter 8:
1. Distinguish between a symptom and a problem giving examples of each. Which of the two should the problem solving process focus on?
2. Distinguish between the three (I, II, and III) types of problem solving errors.
3. List and briefly describe each of the eight steps in the problem solving process adapted from the work of Kepner and Tregoe (1965), Osborn (1963), and Parnes et al. (1977).
4. List the seven tools of quality management and briefly describe the purpose of each tool. Note that there is a mistake in Figure 8.3 on page 183. In the cause and effect diagram, the word “cause” to the far right should be “effect.”
5. This question relates to the scatter diagram. Because of your knowledge of regression, you can do a similar but much more sophisticated analysis in place of the scatter diagram – multiple regression analysis. Suppose that there are three potential causes (A, B, and C) of a particular effect (E). You gather data and complete a multiple regression analysis with the following results: A has a beta of .086 with a calculated significance level of .182; B has a beat of .561 with a calculated significance level of .000; C has a beta of .116 with a calculated significance level of .156. Which of the causes is the “root cause” of the effect (problem)? Support your decision with the regression results.
6. What is the difference between a run chart and a control chart?
7. What are the main purposes of a flow chart? Why might creating flow charts of the major processes for which you are responsible be a good idea when you start a new job?
8. Look at the cause and effect chart on page 191. See the four categories of causes: Machine, Materials, Manpower, and Methods. You know that the SAU School of Business is AACSB accredited. Reaffirmation of accreditation requires that faculty members stay current