Quality Improvement — Excel Series
Master the Seven Basic Quality Tools — built in Microsoft Excel.
The practical, Excel-powered course on Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa's seven classic quality tools — the methods that drove Japan's post-war quality revolution, now enhanced with modern computing. Learn the theory, build every tool in Excel, and apply them through two complete real-world case studies.
All 7 classic tools + Run Chart & Stratification Hands-on Excel construction for every tool Ishikawa's original framework — explained clearly 2 real-world case studies — start to finish
Enroll now — instant access Limited-Time Offer
$10 $49.99
One-time payment · 365 days of full access
Coupon code
QG80
Applied
automatically
automatically
- All 9 quality tools with Excel construction
- 2 real-world case studies end-to-end
- Certificate + 3 PMI PDUs (ATP #6034)
- 365 days of full access
PMI Authorized Training Partner
ATP #6034 · 3 pre-approved PDUs
CPD Accredited (UK)
3 CPD hours · Certified provider
365-Day Full Access
All future course updates included
350,000+ Learners
★ 4.6 average course rating
9
Quality Tools
2
Case Studies
50+
Years Proven
★ 4.6
Avg Rating
Sound familiar?
Four reasons quality tools stay unused
This course is built to solve all four.
01
Knowing the theory but not how to apply it
Most training covers the definitions — what a Pareto chart is, what a control chart measures. Knowing the concept and actually building one to solve a real problem are very different things.
02
Tools taught for 1970s factories, not today's Excel workplaces
Traditional quality courses still teach check sheets on paper and control charts by hand. In practice, your data is in Excel — and without learning to use these tools in a spreadsheet, the knowledge is hard to apply.
03
Seeing tools in isolation — not how they work together
The real power comes from combining them: a cause-and-effect diagram to generate hypotheses, a Pareto chart to prioritise, a control chart to verify the fix worked. Without seeing this end-to-end, each tool feels abstract.
04
Not knowing which tool to use for which problem
Each tool serves a specific diagnostic purpose. Using a histogram when you need a scatter diagram — or a run chart when you need a control chart — leads to wrong conclusions. The right choice requires practice with real examples.
What you'll master
Theory + Excel skills + real-world application
From the history of each tool through hands-on Excel construction to applied case studies — you will know not just what each tool is, but when and how to use it.
Explain the history and significance of the Seven Basic Quality Tools as introduced by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1970s
Build cause-and-effect (Ishikawa / fishbone) diagrams in Excel to systematically identify root causes of quality problems
Create structured data collection tools using check sheets — and their modern equivalent, the Excel pivot table
Construct and interpret control charts in Excel — distinguishing common cause variation from special cause variation
Build histograms from raw data in Excel to visualise process distributions and identify patterns such as skew and bimodality
Create Pareto charts in Excel to apply the 80/20 rule and prioritise which problems deserve the most improvement effort
Plot scatter diagrams in Excel with trendlines to identify and visualise correlation between two process variables
Design flowcharts in Excel to map processes and identify steps where quality problems are most likely to occur
Create run charts and apply stratification to separate data by source, shift, machine, or operator to reveal hidden patterns
Select the right tool for different quality scenarios — and combine multiple tools through two complete real-world case studies
Course curriculum
Nine tools. Complete coverage.
All seven classic quality tools — plus Run Chart and Stratification — each with theory, Excel construction, and worked examples.
1
Cause & Effect Diagram
📊 Build in Excel
Also called the Ishikawa or fishbone diagram
Organises causes into categories: Man, Machine, Method, Material, Environment, Measurement
The starting point for structured root-cause investigation
2
Check Sheet
📊 Excel Pivot Tables
Structured form for collecting and tallying data at the point of occurrence
Modern equivalent: Excel pivot table — same purpose, far greater power
Foundation for all further analysis
3
Control Chart
📊 Dynamic Excel Chart
Distinguishes common cause from special cause variation
Cornerstone of statistical process control
Build with UCL, LCL, and centre line in Excel
4
Histogram
📊 Build in Excel
Reveals the frequency distribution of a dataset
Shows shape, spread, and centre of a process
Essential for process capability analysis
5
Pareto Chart
📊 Combo Chart in Excel
The 80/20 rule in visual form
Combined bar and line chart ranking problems by frequency
The starting point for prioritising improvement efforts
6
Scatter Diagram
📊 Trendlines in Excel
Tests whether a suspected cause correlates with a problem
Visualises strength and direction of the relationship
Add trendlines and R² in Excel
7
Flow Chart
📊 Process Mapping in Excel
Visual map of a process — steps, decisions, handoffs
Reveals where waste or defects are most likely
Foundation for process improvement design
+
Run Chart
Additional Tool
Line graph of data over time — without control limits
Useful for spotting trends, shifts, and cycles early
Simpler starting point before building full control charts
+
Stratification
Additional Tool
Separating data into subgroups: shift, machine, operator, supplier
Reveals patterns hidden when all data is combined
Essential companion to all the other quality tools
Applied learning
Two real-world case studies
Theory makes sense. Case studies make it stick. See exactly how multiple quality tools are combined to diagnose and solve two different types of real quality problems — end to end.
Case Study 1
Reducing Paint Repair Rework in a Manufacturing Operation
A manufacturing facility was experiencing a high rate of defective painting jobs — requiring rework that wasted time, materials, and effort. This case study walks through the full investigation from problem identification through root cause analysis and prioritisation, applying multiple quality tools in the sequence they would be used in a real improvement project.
Tools Applied
Check Sheet
Pareto Chart
Cause & Effect
Histogram
Case Study 2
Using Control Charts to Maintain Critical Product Dimensions
A production process required that key product dimensions stay within tight specification limits. This case study demonstrates how control charts monitor the process over time, detect when something has changed, distinguish real signals from natural variation, and confirm that corrective actions had the desired effect.
Tools Applied
Control Chart
Run Chart
Histogram
Stratification
Everything included
A complete learning system
Six formats to help you understand the tools, build them in Excel, and apply them with confidence in your own work.
Video Lessons
Clear, focused lessons on the theory, history, and purpose of all nine tools — from cause-and-effect diagrams through run charts and stratification.
Hands-On Practice
Exercises that put you in the role of a quality analyst — selecting the right tool, interpreting what a chart is telling you, and making improvement decisions based on data.
Worked Excel Examples
Step-by-step demonstrations of building every tool in Microsoft Excel — Pareto charts, control charts, scatter diagrams with trendlines, histograms from raw data. Follow along and build as you watch.
Downloadable Slides
All course slides downloadable — covering tool theory, when to use each tool, Excel steps, and both case studies. A useful desk reference after the course.
Certificate + 3 PMI PDUs
A Quality Gurus Inc. certificate of completion worth 3 pre-approved PMI PDUs — earned on completing the course and all assessments.
Student Community
Ask questions about specific tools, get feedback on your Excel charts, discuss which tool to use for a problem you're facing at work — and get answers from peers and the instructor.
Who it's for
You're in the right place if…
Quality professionals and improvement practitioners
You work in quality assurance, process improvement, or operations and want a practical, Excel-ready command of the quality tools every improvement practitioner should know.
Manufacturing, healthcare, and operations teams
You deal with variation, defects, or process problems daily and want proven diagnostic tools to identify root causes, prioritise efforts, and verify that improvements have worked.
Professionals new to quality tools
You have heard of Pareto charts or fishbone diagrams but have never built one — this course takes you from zero to confident in building and interpreting all seven tools in Excel.
Students and recent graduates
You are studying engineering, quality management, or business and want hands-on exposure to the quality tools that appear in every ASQ certification and every workplace quality programme.
Excel users who want to do more with data
You already use Excel for data and want to apply structured quality analysis — building Pareto charts, control charts, and scatter diagrams that turn raw data into improvement insights.
Anyone who wants to solve problems more rigorously
The Seven Basic Quality Tools give you a disciplined, data-driven approach to diagnosing and fixing problems that applies in any industry — whether or not you're pursuing certification.
Your instructor
Sandeep Kumar
Founder, Quality Gurus Inc. · ASQ Certified Quality Professional
ASQ Certified — CSSBB, CSSGB, CQE, CQA & more
40+ years of industry experience
350,000+ students across all courses
Top-rated quality instructor
Sandeep is an engineer, quality management expert, and educator with over 40 years of hands-on experience applying quality tools across manufacturing, operations, and process improvement projects in multiple industries.
He has taught quality tools — including the Seven Basic Tools — to over 350,000 students globally, and has built and applied every one of these tools in real improvement projects throughout his career. His teaching philosophy: clear explanations, real-world examples, and practice that transfers directly to your work.
Even students who have seen these tools before consistently say this course gave them the practical Excel skills and problem-solving context that made the tools genuinely useful for the first time.
350K+
Total Students
★ 4.6
Average Rating
40+
Years Experience
Student reviews
What students are saying
★★★★★
"I have known about Pareto charts for years but never actually built one properly in Excel. Sandeep walks through every step and explains the logic behind each decision. The Pareto chart and control chart sections alone were worth the enrolment."
K
Kwame A.
Quality Engineer, Automotive Manufacturing
★★★★★
"The case studies are what made everything click. Seeing how you use a cause-and-effect diagram first, then a Pareto chart to narrow down, then a control chart to verify — that sequence is exactly what I needed. I applied the same approach on a real project within a week."
P
Priya N.
Process Improvement Analyst, Healthcare
★★★★★
"I had tried learning these tools from textbooks but they always felt abstract. Building each one in Excel with real data — especially the control chart and scatter diagram — made them practical and immediately usable. The pivot table as a modern check sheet was a brilliant addition."
D
David M.
Operations Supervisor, Food Processing
Enroll today
Everything you need, one price
Nine quality tools, two case studies, hands-on Excel practice, and 3 PMI PDUs — in one course.
Seven Basic Quality Tools (Excel)
$10 $49.99
Save 80% — code QG80 applied automatically
One-time payment · 365 days of full access · All future updates included
- 365 days of unlimited access
- Video lessons on all 9 quality tools — theory and Excel construction
- Hands-on practice exercises for every tool
- Worked Excel examples — build each tool step by step
- Two complete real-world case studies
- Downloadable slides — a useful desk reference after the course
- Certificate of completion + 3 PMI PDUs + CPD Accredited (UK)
- Student community access — ask questions, get answers
- All future course updates at no extra cost
One-time payment · 365 days access · All future updates included
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any prior quality or statistics knowledge?
No prior quality knowledge is required. The course starts from the beginning — including the history of why these tools were created — and explains each tool's purpose and method from the ground up. A basic familiarity with Microsoft Excel is helpful but the course also covers the Excel steps in detail.
Which version of Microsoft Excel do I need?
The course uses Microsoft Excel for Windows. Excel 2016, 2019, Excel 365, or any recent version will work. Most techniques covered also work in Excel 2013 and later. The course does not cover Google Sheets or Apple Numbers, though the underlying quality tool concepts apply in any data software.
Are Excel template files included?
The course demonstrates how to build each tool from scratch in Excel, so you learn the underlying process rather than just filling in a pre-made template. Downloadable slides with key steps and reference tables are included. Building the tools yourself — following along with the instructor — is the most effective way to learn and retain them.
What makes this different from just reading about the seven tools?
Three things: Excel construction (you actually build every tool, not just read about it), worked examples (you see real data being analysed), and case studies (you see how tools are combined to solve real quality problems from start to finish). Reading gives you concepts. This course gives you skills you can apply immediately.
Are the case studies based on real situations?
Yes. Both case studies are drawn from real quality improvement scenarios — a manufacturing operation dealing with high paint repair rework, and a production process using control charts to maintain critical product dimensions. The specific data has been adapted for teaching, but the problems, tools applied, and analytical approach reflect real-world quality improvement work.
Do I earn PDUs and a certificate?
Yes. On completion you receive a Quality Gurus Inc. certificate worth 3 pre-approved PMI PDUs (Quality Gurus Inc. is PMI Authorized Training Partner, ATP #6034). The course is also CPD Accredited (UK), providing 3 CPD hours.
How long will I have access to the course?
You receive 365 days of full access to all course content from the date of enrolment, including all future updates made during that period.
Start building better quality tools today.
Join hundreds of thousands of quality and improvement professionals who learn with Quality Gurus Inc.
3 PMI PDUs · CPD Accredited · 365-Day Access
365 days of unlimited access · 3 PMI PDUs · All future updates included
© Quality Gurus Inc. · qualitygurus.com · PMI ATP #6034
Microsoft Excel® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. PMI® is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute. Quality Gurus Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft Excel® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. PMI® is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute. Quality Gurus Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.
Course Curriculum
Ready to build your quality toolkit?
Nine tools. Excel-powered. Yours today.
All seven of Dr. Ishikawa's classic quality tools — plus Run Chart and Stratification — with hands-on Excel construction, worked examples, and two complete real-world case studies. Learn the tools that have driven quality improvement for over 50 years. One payment, 365 days of access.
$10 $49.99
Save 80% — code QG80 applied automatically at checkout
3 PMI PDUs — PMI ATP #6034 CPD Accredited (UK) · 3 CPD hours ★★★★★4.6 · 350,000+ learners
One-time payment · 365 days access · All future updates included
