Check Sheet Implementation
Utilizing Check Sheets to Improve Quality
Contents
Check Sheets Defined
Brainstorming Exercise
Creating Check Sheets
How they work
Benefits/Problems
 Real World Example
 Practice Exercise
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Check Sheets Defined
 What is a check sheet?
 A basic tool for monitoring quality
improvement processes
 A simple data collection device
 There are two varieties of check
sheets
 Tabular Example
 Schematic Example1
Check Sheets Defined
 Common Types
 Distribution Check Sheets
 Used to collect data in order to determine
how a variable is dispersed within an area
of possible occurrences
 Location Check Sheets
 Highlights the physical location of a
problem/defect in order to improve quality
 They may also utilize visual(schematic)
drawings of areas in order to record where
problems are occurring
Check Sheets Defined
 Common Types, Continued
 Cause Check Sheets
 Used to keep track of how often a problem
happens or records the cause to a certain
problem.
 Classification Check Sheets
 Used to keep track of the frequency of
major classifications involving the delivery
of products or services
Optional
Brainstorming Exercise
 Creating a Check Sheet
 In groups of three to five people,
brainstorm a simple process, which
can be internal or external of the
organization, and create a list of
questions that should be answered by
the check sheet process.
Creating Check Sheets
 Step One
 Identify the question
 Develop and understand the question(s) that
need to be answered before the data
collection process
 Step Two
 Identify potential problem areas
 Outline the production process
 Figure out the potential processes that could
be causing defects
 Get employees involved who know the
processes well
Creating Check Sheets
 Step Three
 Tracking problems/defects
 Construct a tabular or schematic
diagram in order to track problems in
production processes
 Step Four
 Recording problems/defects
 Physically record every instance that
a problem/defect is encountered
Benefits
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Efficiency/Speed
Systematic and Organized
Ease of use/Simplicity
Can be used in conjunction with
other charts and diagrams for a
more in depth analysis
Problems
 Data Inaccuracies
 Check Sheet Biases
 Exclusion
 Interaction
 Perception
 Operational
 Nonresponse
 Estimation
Real World Example
 Mitsubishi Motors
 http://www.mitsubishimotors.co.jp/inter/NEWS/0010-03/n001020.html
 Mitsubishi motors has defects in several
car models and they use check sheets to
track the defects in order to improve
their production processes
 The check sheet link is
 http://www.mitsubishimotors.co.jp/inter/NEWS/001003/n010215a.html
Check Sheet Exercise
 Creating a Check Sheet
 In groups of three to five people, choose a
simple process, which can be internal or
external of your organization, and create a
check sheet that would seem most
appropriate for the process you chose.
 The design of the check sheet is to be
determined by the group.
 Refer to previous examples for ideas of how or
where to begin if necessary.
 Paper clip experiment
Summary
 Check Sheets should be easy to use
 Since data is gathered quickly, simplicity
reduces margin for error.
 As a rule of thumb, keep it simple
 Only record relevant data
 Use Check Sheets for quick analysis
 Do not try to make general assumptions from
data that is collected. In order for a more
detailed analysis, data needs to be grouped by
region, machine, process, etc. and should be
used in conjunction with other quality tools.
Bibliography
 Sources for more information
 Quality Progress Magazine
 An excellent source for just about any quality
related issue you can think of, there are many
great articles that are available in past issues
that continue to be used by modern
organizations as well as many new ideas for
quality improvement
 www.qualityamerica.com
 Contains training, software and other
information as well as an online store for
many quality improvement devices
 www.freequality.org
 Free website for many quality training and
improvement sources