May 2026 CPHQ Prep Virtual Class-Tools and Charts Study Sheet

Tools and Charts Study Sheet
Pdf Summary
This document is a reference guide to common quality-improvement and Lean tools, explaining when each one should be used:

- <strong>Ishikawa/Fishbone/Cause-and-Effect Diagram</strong>: Used in root cause analysis to organize possible causes of a problem or identify factors that contribute to success.
- <strong>Flow Chart/Process Map</strong>: Used to show the steps in a process from the team’s perspective, identify where problems occur, reveal handoffs, assign responsibility, and demonstrate the process.
- <strong>Matrix Diagram</strong>: Used to show relationships or importance among factors, assign tasks to employees, compare tasks against criteria, evaluate products/services, and examine links such as patient satisfaction and influencing factors.
- <strong>Force Field Analysis</strong>: Used to identify forces that help or hinder success, support root cause analysis for process actions, and list pros and cons of improvement projects.
- <strong>Pareto Chart</strong>: Based on the 80/20 rule, used to identify the few causes or areas responsible for most problems and to decide where to focus improvement efforts.
- <strong>6S (Lean tool)</strong>: Used to reduce waste, organize the workspace, and standardize work areas.
- <strong>Spaghetti Diagram</strong>: Used to show process flow and physical movement, especially to identify time waste.
- <strong>SIPOC</strong>: Stands for Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer; used to align projects with strategy and identify barriers and customer needs.
- <strong>Value Stream Map</strong>: Used to view the process from the customer perspective and identify waste and flow problems.
- <strong>Frequency Plot/Histogram</strong>: Used to examine data spread, distribution, peaks, and possible multiple processes or populations.
- <strong>Run Chart</strong>: Used to detect non-random changes over time using the median as the center line.
- <strong>Control Chart</strong>: Used to determine whether a process is stable, distinguish common vs. special cause variation, and confirm sustained improvement.
- <strong>Scatter Diagram</strong>: Used to assess correlation between two variables.
Keywords
Ishikawa diagram
Fishbone diagram
Process map
Pareto chart
SIPOC
Value stream map
Control chart
Run chart
Scatter diagram
Lean tools