Quality improvement tools that include the histogram, Pareto chart, check sheet, control chart, cause-and-effect diagram, flowchart, and scatter diagram.
Shewhart Cycle
A four-step improvement process. The first step involves planning for the necessary improvement: the second step is the implementation of the plan; the third step is to check the results of the plan; the last step is to act upon the results of the plan. It is also known as the Deming cycle and the PDCA cycle.
SMEs
Short for small and medium sized enterprises ie, those employing fewer than 250 employees
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Analysis and control of a process through the use of statistical techniques, particularly control charts
Supplier
Anyone whose output (materials, information, sevice, etc) becomes an input to another person or group in the process of work. A supplier can be external or internal to the organisation.
