Data Analysis Tools and Techniques

Researchers have recognized the need for understanding the relationships

between different aspects of Total Quality Management (TQM). Bunney and Dale
(1997) stated that the introduction of the quality management tools depends on the
stage of the improvement process. They came up with two different classifications
of the commonly used tools in TQM, one according to the area of application and
the other according to the business function in which they could be utilized.

Scheuermann, Zhu, & Scheuermann (1997) analyzed 15 commonly used TQM tools
and sorted them into qualitative and quantitative classifications. The qualitative
approach to gathering information focuses on the understanding of underlying
reasons, opinions, and motivations. This is generally done in interviews, open-ended
questions, or focus groups. On the other hand, the quantitative method involves the
quantification of the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can
be transformed into useable statistics.

From the examination of the information above, the team decided what approach
should be taken for the problem at hand. For the data collection,
questionnaires/voting would be employed; flowcharts would be used to explain the
workflow. Then the acquired data would be analyzed using QFD (Quality Function
Deployment), scatter diagrams, histograms and Pareto Charts to give concrete

numerical results. As our line of attack would be making use of elements from both
quantitative and qualitative categories, we would be opting for a research from a
mixed-method viewpoint.