Kaoru Ishikawa

Kaoru Ishikawa

Kaoru Ishikawa (1915-1989) was one of the most influential people in quality movement after World War II. The translated and adjusted to Japanese culture management concepts of William Edwards Deming and Joseph M. Juran. He is known mainly for implementation of quality circles and Fish diagram.

Biography

• 1939 - engineering degree in applied chemistry at the University of Tokyo
• 1939-41 - technical officer in Navy
• 1941-47 - Nissan Liquid Fuel Company
• 1947 - professor at University of Tokyo
• 1949 - joins Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE)
• 1962 - concept of quality circles
• 1978 - president of Musashi Institute of Technology
• 1982 - development of Ishikawa chart

Contributions

Kaoru ishikawa contributed to the quality philosophy i.e.:

• implementation of quality circles,
• Ishikawa chart (Fishbone cause and effect diagram)
• user friendly quality control
• emphasised the internal customer

Quality circles

A quality circle is a group of workers that meet regularly in order to analyse and solve work-related problems. The team works independently, however under supervision of managers. Quality circles use Kaizen philosophy to improve work, process and product. The idea is widespread in Japan, however it encountered significant problems in Western culture countries. The individualism and short-term orientation limit the use of quality circles in Europe or USA.

Ishikawa chart

Fish diagram is a cause and effect diagram, which shows causes of specific event (problem). The chart allows deep analysis of causes. The main construction rule is asking Why? question. According to Genichi Taguchi, the level of analysis should be 5 levels deep. The chart is used worldwide to solve different problems.

Examples of Kaoru Ishikawa achievements

• Kaoru Ishikawa is best known for his contributions to quality management and quality control. He developed the "fishbone diagram" (also known as the cause and effect diagram or Ishikawa diagram) which is used to identify and break down the root causes of a problem. This diagram is still widely used today in many industries to identify and address quality issues.
• Ishikawa also developed the "seven tools of quality control," which includes the Control Chart, Check Sheet, Histogram, Pareto Chart, Scatter Diagram, Stratification, and Flow Chart. These tools are used to identify, measure, analyze and control process output, allowing for improved process performance and better quality products.
• Ishikawa's "7 Quality Control Principles" are also well known. These principles include: understand customer requirements, establish quality standards, create processes to meet the standards, measure and analyze process results, take corrective action when needed, use teamwork to improve quality, and continuously strive for improvement. These principles are still used today in many industries to improve quality and reduce the cost of production.

Advantages of Kaoru Ishikawa approach

Kaoru Ishikawa is a Japanese quality management pioneer associated with the development of the ‘fishbone’ diagram. His methodology has become popular worldwide for creating a clear, visual representation of the cause and effect relationships in a problem-solving process. Here are some advantages of using Kaoru Ishikawa's methodology:

• It is easy to understand and apply, even for those without a technical background. The fishbone diagram is simple to create and provides a comprehensive overview of the issue at hand.
• It encourages team collaboration and problem-solving. As the fishbone diagram is a visual representation of the problem, it makes it easier for everyone to discuss and identify potential solutions.
• It helps to identify root causes quickly and accurately. By analyzing the problem in detail and looking at all the potential causes, it is easier to pinpoint the source of the issue.
• It is useful in preventing future problems. By analyzing the root causes of the problem, it is easier to develop strategies to minimize the risks of the same or similar issues arising in the future.

Limitations of Kaoru Ishikawa approach

Kaoru Ishikawa, the Japanese quality management guru, developed a range of methods and tools for quality improvement and management. However, there are some limitations to his approach, such as:

• His work relies heavily on team-based problem solving. This means that it may not be suitable for organizations that lack the resources to foster effective teams.
• His methods focus on problem solving and improving processes rather than on the development of new products or services.
• His approach is limited to identifying problems and solutions in the current environment, and does not consider future changes or trends.
• His methods require a significant investment of time and resources, which may be prohibitive for smaller companies.
• His approach may be too rigid and structured for organizations with highly dynamic and unpredictable needs.

Other approaches related to Kaoru Ishikawa

Kaoru Ishikawa was a Japanese quality management pioneer and is known for his contribution to quality control circles and the Ishikawa diagram. Other approaches related to Kaoru Ishikawa include:

• Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle: This is a continuous quality improvement model that was developed by Ishikawa and is still used today. It involves planning out a process, executing it, checking on results, and then taking corrective action if needed.
• Quality Control Circles: This is a group problem-solving technique that encourages employees to identify and solve quality problems.
• Total Quality Management (TQM): This approach to quality management, which was popularized by Ishikawa, focuses on the continuous improvement of processes and products.
• Deming's 14 Points: This approach was developed by W. Edwards Deming and seeks to promote quality and reduce costs through statistical methods.

In summary, Kaoru Ishikawa is known for his contributions to the fields of quality management, and his approaches include the PDCA cycle, quality control circles, TQM, and Deming's 14 points.

Kaoru Ishikawa — recommended articles

Deming wheel — Philip B. Crosby — Armand Feigenbaum — Joseph M. Juran — William Edwards Deming — Continuous improvement — World class manufacturing — Total Quality Management — Six sigma

References

• Ishikawa K. (1985) What is Total Quality Control?. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall
• Ishikawa K (1980) QC Circle Koryo : General Principles of the QC Circle. Tokyo: QC Circle Headquarters, Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers.
• Marks, M.L., Mirvis, P.H., Hackett, E.J., Grady, J.F., (1986) Employee participation in a Quality Circle program: Impact on quality of work life, productivity, and absenteeism, Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 71(1)
• Barrick M.R., Alexander R.A. (1987), A review of quality circle efficacy ant the existence of positive-findings bias, Personnel psychology, 40(3)

Author: Slawomir Wawak