Top 7 Tools for Quality Assurance in a Business
A business is not competent enough if it does not have an efficient quality assurance (QA) system in operations. As a strategic mechanism, the QA system has an indispensable role to play. Giving enough attention to customer demand and expectations and accomplishing them on time, are key aspects of determining success, brand loyalty, and business continuity. Without quality assurance in a business, a company does not have enough options to succeed in the long term. The QA system promotes customer confidence, which boosts the credibility of a business.
Companies often rely on internal systems and personalized models to maintain quality assurance. In most cases, companies fail to achieve the benchmark as they fail to quickly comply with the standardized rules and regulations. To make the implementation correct, a company must know about some of the key tools of quality assurance. The following blog has discussed them –
What are some of the top tools for Quality Assurance in a Business?
1. Cause and Effect diagram
Companies use the cause-and-effect diagram to identify and sort different causes of operational problems to determine the correct set of actions. The diagram is easy to use and shows the factors that can strongly influence the outcome. The diagram, also known as the Ishikawa diagram, was developed by Kaoru Ishikawa to help organizations in having systematic thoughts. It assists companies in having a stringent quality management system by analyzing each action in respect of its causes and effects. It helps to find the root causes and therefore assists the management in improving its teamwork. The easy-to-read format of the diagram makes way for identifying the cause-and-effect relationship. For a productive outcome, the tool provides enough information on the required data for better process analysis.
2. Check Sheet
The check sheet is an easy-to-use quality assurance tool that helps to prepare a list comprising certain products or service items. Over time, the list is reviewed to see which service items are being repeated. This way, companies determine risk factors and become able to take preventive measures. The tool is often paired with the Pareto chart and Histogram.
3. Delphi Technique
This is probably one of the most significant quality assurance and maintenance tools that enables companies in estimating the likelihood of a risk factor. The aim of using this tool is to safeguard the quality control system from the future occurrence of major threat factors. Independent reviews and reports are made on each of the risk factors and later analyzed by a facilitator.
4. Affinity Diagram
The affinity diagram mainly focuses on different ideas, which generate, organize, or integrate data for a better evaluation of the product and process. The diagram helps to streamline the brainstorming ideas based on their natural connection with each other. They are later applied for evaluating the quality of the production and delivery of the service/products. The tool makes a coherent list of information that would help the management to test the creativity and proactiveness of the team.
5. Pareto Chart
The Pareto Chart was designed following the principle of Pareto. According to his principle, approximately, 80% of the consequences are brought by 20% of the causes. The 80/20 rule helps to determine the quality control and maintenance measures to estimate the efficiency of productivity. The tool enables companies to make a list of causes and their level of contribution to quality maintenance. The levels are arranged chronologically and documented with proper data so that in the future they can be accessed and used. This tool has great utility value, even to design contingency plans and resources.
6. ISO 14000
ISO 14000 is the internationally acclaimed standard for the quality management system. Most companies acquire this standard to maintain a sustainable quality management system. The endless benefits of the standard enable an organization to achieve customer satisfaction, business stability, and international acknowledgment. Certification of ISO 14001 is the easiest way and a crucial strategic tool for acquiring a competitive advantage. The standard has some precise set of requirements to be fulfilled before a company register for accreditation. Leadership, objectives, the scope of the system, resource allocation, and implementation followed by a review and improvement are the key stages of the certification.
7. Stratified Sampling
Stratified sampling is done when a company faces issues with understanding and accessing its intellectual properties. The tool helps the management to interpret the data, which have been lumped together. Through stratified sampling, organizational data are identified, organized, and processed into different layers according to the particular system of the company. This way it becomes to use them for analyses and pair them with other statistic tools for better quality review. The particular process aims to focus on organizational knowledge to analyze operational success for quality maintenance.
Bottom line
Most companies choose ISO 14000 certification above all simply because it offers a comprehensive guideline for organizations. Choosing the right tool for quality assurance in a business is tricky. It needs experience and proper knowledge. It is better to have professional help in choosing the right mechanism for achieving an effective QA system.
Though online guidelines are available, it is better to discuss the system and operational structure of your company in detail with an expert. It helps the advisor to suggest you the most suitable tool.