A Quality storyboard is a visual method for displaying a Quality Control story (QC story). Some enterprises have developed a storyboard format for telling the QC story, for example at Yokogawa-Hewlett-Packard in Japan, the story is told using a flip chart which is 6 feet by 6 feet (2 x 2 meters). The project team uses colored markers to show the PDSA cycle (Shewhart cycle) plus the SDSA cycle (SDSA = Standardize, Do, Study, Act).

A QC story is an element of Policy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri

Hoshin Kanri

Hoshin kanri - is a method devised to capture and cement strategic goals as well as flashes of insight about the future and develop the means to bring these into reality."...

). After each manager writes an interpretation of the policy statement, the interpretation is
discussed with the next manager above to reconcile differences in understanding and direction. In this way they play “catchball” with the policy and develop a consensus.

Worker participation in managerial diagnosis

When the management attempts to make a managerial diagnosis, it is important that the people whose work is being diagnosed be properly prepared to enter the
discussion. For this purpose, it is very helpful if everyone knows how to tell the QC story. Telling the story properly requires seven steps.

1. Plan and Problem definition:

This step includes an explanation of why the problem is important (which
will tie it to the priority statements of the top management or to a problem that is essential as seen at the lower levels). Normally this step includes
a discussion of the losses that occur because of the problem, the team
that will work on it, and an estimate of what might be done. A target is often
specified though it is understood that reaching such a target cannot be guaranteed. A schedule is proposed.

2. Data:

This step involves observing the time, place, type and symptoms of the
problem. It involves data gathering and display in an attempt to understand
the important aspects of the problem.

3. Analysis:

In this step the various tools of quality analysis are used, such as Control chart

Control chart

Control charts, also known as Shewhart charts or process-behaviour charts, in statistical process control are tools used to determine whether or not a manufacturing or business process is in a state of statistical control.- Overview :...

s, Pareto charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, scatter diagrams, histogram

Histogram

In statistics, a histogram is a graphical representation showing a visual impression of the distribution of data. It is an estimate of the probability distribution of a continuous variable and was first introduced by Karl Pearson...

s, etc.

4. Action:

Based on the analysis, an action is taken.

5. Study:

The results are studied to see if they conform to what was expected and to learn from what was not expected. Data are taken to confirm the action.

6. Act/Standardization:

Appropriate steps are taken to see that the gains are secured. New standard procedures are introduced.

7. Plans for the future:

As a result of solving this problem, other problems will have been identified
and other opportunities recognized.

These seven steps DO NOT describe how a problem is solved. Problem solving requires a great deal of iteration and it is often necessary to go back to a previous step as new data are found and better analyses are made. However, when it comes time to report on what was done, the above format provides the basis for telling the story in a way that makes it comprehensible to the upper levels of management.

Questions to guide constructing a Quality storyboard

Definition of the problem:

• Does the Problem definition contain three parts: Direction, Measure, Reference?
• Did you avoid words like "improve" and "lack of"?
• Have you avoided using "and" to address more than one issue in the Problem definition?

Why Selected:

• Have you explained how you know this is the most important issue to work on?
• Have you shown how the issue relates to the customer or customer satisfaction, or how it will benefit the customer?
• Have you explained the method used to select the issue?

Initial state:

• Have you described, in numerical terms, the status of the measure in the Problem definition?
• Have you collected time series data?
• Have you provided some historical information about the status of the measure?
• Are data displayed in a visual, graphical format?
• Is there a flowchart or other explanation of the status of the process at the beginning of the project?
• Have you included other facts that would help the reader understand the initial situation?

Analysis of Causes:

• Is there a clear statement of the major cause(s) of the issue?
• Have you explained how the possible causes were theorized?
• Are data included showing how the main causes were identified?
• Are data displayed in such a way that the connection between the issue and the cause(s) is clear?
• Have you explained how the data were collected and over what time period they were collected?

Plans:

• Is there a complete Purpose Statement and objectives designed to move toward the purpose: Direction, measure, reference, target, time frame, and owner?
• Is it clear how the target was derived from the analysis?
• Is it clear that the actions in the plan are aimed at correcting root cause(s)?
• Have you indicated what alternative solutions were considered, and how they were evaluated to select the best improvement theory?
• Have you included a copy of the planning documents?
• Have you indicated whether the plan was implemented on schedule?

Study:

• Is there a comparison of the target in the improvement theory and the actual results?
• Are the results displayed in the same graphical format as the information in "Initial state" or "Analysis"?
• Have you indicated whether the results were achieved in the expected time frame?
• If the results did not match the objectives or were achieved outside the expected time, have you provided an analysis of the differences?
• Have you included any other related results, good or bad?

Act/Standardization:

• Have you explained the actions taken to hold the gain and updated all related documentation, training in the new process, skills training, physical reorganization, sharing, or process monitoring?

Future Plans:

• Have you included a list of possible next projects?
• Have you indicated which of the possible projects will be the next issue for improvement?

Belevied to have been first developed by Japanese tractor company, Komatsu.

Quality storyboards were also used by Florida Power & Light

Florida Power & Light

Florida Power & Light Company, the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc. , commonly referred to by its initials, FPL, is a Juno Beach, Florida-based power utility which serves roughly 4.4 million customers in Florida. FPL Group holds power generation assets in more than 20 U.S...

 as part of their quality drive during the 1980's to win the Deming Prize

Deming Prize

The Deming prize, established in December 1950 in honor of W. Edwards Deming, was originally designed to reward Japanese companies for major advances in quality improvement...

.

External links

• QAProject.com Description of how to create quality storyboards
• http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den/pol_dep.pdfPOLICY DEPLOYMENT by Myron Tribus
  Myron Tribus
  Myron T. Tribus was the director of the Center for Advanced Engineering Study at MIT. He headed the center when it published W. Edwards Deming's book, Out of the Crisis, and became a leading supporter and interpreter of W. Edwards Deming...
  
  ]
• HOSHIN KANRI: sharing the vision