Quality Improvement Methods
This website provides information on some of the more widely used quality improvement (QI) methods or tools that a QUERI researcher may find useful. The methods are listed in alphabetical order by the most common name used in healthcare. Unique aspects of certain situations may be helped by any of these QI methods.
Further information will be needed to implement any of these methods but this website can be used as a starting point. The intent here is to give the researcher the basic idea and describe common uses of these methods. The exact approach for using the method varies by the practitioner using them or the institution where they are used.
Click here for an example of how QI methods could be used in a QUERI project.
- 1. A-3 worksheet
Single page for defining and circulating important information about a QI project - 2. Affinity Diagram
Method to organize ideas according to their relationships in order to prompt QI discussions - 3. Andon
A clear and prompt way to communicate problems, delays or need for assistance - 4. Balanced Scorecard
Using the multiple dimensions necessary to measure and manage performance - 5. Baldrige Award
A public recognition of good performance using a specified application process - 6. Change Management
An approach to assure that an operational or organizational transition takes place successfully - 7. Checklists
Process to specify and record the completion of all critical quality steps - 8. Continuous Flow
Concept that work is best done in a smooth and organized sequence - 9. Control Chart
Method to display and analyze data on a process to identify unwanted variation - 10. Cost Effectiveness Analysis
Economic evaluation of alternatives by considering benefits and costs - 11. Design of Experiments
A statistical approach to efficiently determine the effect of changes on individual factors - 12. DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control)
Model which plans and depicts improvement in five clear and sequential steps - 13. Facility Layout Assessment
Process to improve the effect of the physical arrangement of a workspace on productivity and quality - 14. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Structured study of the potentials for and effects of failures or errors - 15. Five-S Exercise
Exercise with a focus on neatness to support efficiency - 16. Force Field Analysis
Study of the opposing factors related to a change - 17. Gantt Chart
Tool to plan the timeline of a project - 18. Gemba and Genchi Genbutsu Exercises
Method to better understand a process by directly observing operations - 19. Hoshin Kanri Structure
Process of achieving shared goals to increase QI effort success - 20. Fishbone Diagram
Graphing the inputs to a particular issue - 21. ISO 9000
International standards regarding quality that are a useful basis for improvement - 22. Kaizen Events
Focused group work on specific improvement using Lean precepts - 23. Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Quantitative measures of performance considered important - 24. Lean Approach
Popular approach to improve quality and operations - 25. Lean Daily Management
Ongoing program to assure sustaining improvement - 26. Maturity Model
Study of the capability of an organization's ability to change and improve - 27. Modeling and Optimization
Mathematical equations to gain insight on processes and how to improve them - 28. Nominal Group Technique
Way to assure the capabilities of a group are fully utilized - 29. Overproduction Assessment
Assessment of workplace inefficiencies and unnecessary work - 30. One Piece Flow
Single units of work are often better than batches - 31. Pareto Analysis
Identification of items or problems by order of frequency and importance - 32. Performance Board
Display of current results and trends to support sustaining improvements - 33. PDSA Cycles
Model of accomplishing quality improvement through repeated small steps - 34. PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique)
Technique to manage a project’s tasks and timeline - 35. Poka-Yoke Techniques
Technique to prevent errors through the design of tasks and workspaces - 36. Process Mapping (also known as Flowcharting and Workflow Diagramming)
Graphically identifying components, relationships, and sequences in a system - 37. Project Management
Discipline to assure successful project completion - 38. Pull
Moving work on the basis of pulling rather than pushing - 39. Quality Function Deployment
An organized way to assure that a design results in good quality - 40. Responsibilities Matrix
Matrix showing assignments and personnel in order to identify duplications and gaps in responsibilities - 41. Scatter Diagram
Graph used to determine if a relationship exists between parameters - 42. Simulation Modeling
Use of a computer model to replicate operations and to understand and improve it - 43. SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Processes, Outputs, and Customers)
Structured way to identify the relevant elements of a system undergoing a QI effort - 44. Six Sigma Approach
Improvement approach with a particular focus on using data and reducing variability - 45. SMART Goals (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Sensitive)
Attributes of effective QI goals - 46. Spaghetti Diagram
Graphic depiction of physical movements to identify opportunities for improvement - 47. Standard Work
Documenting a process to improve inform workers regarding consistency and effectiveness - 48. Systems Approach
Considering all interconnected parts and their relationship - 49. Takt Time
Concept of balancing workloads and pace to improve process flow - 50. Theory of Constraints
Reducing operational problems based on the limitations in a sequence of tasks - 51. Time Study and Work Measurement
Measurement of the time and effort involved in work to identify QI opportunities - 52. Total Quality Management (TQM)
Structured approach to improve and maintain quality - 53. Value Stream Map
Diagram the sequence of processes identifying work and waste - 54. Visual Controls
QI through visible cues - 55. Waste Reduction
Assessment of work unnecessary from the customer’s perspective