How To Guide

Quick Tips for Our Most Popular Tools

 Installation
If you’re reading this guide, that means you’ve already taken the first important step toward simplifying Lean Six
Sigma tools like control charts and statistics. QI Macros is easy to use and provides a wealth of tools to help
improve your processes.

If you haven’t already completed your QI Macros installation, let’s get started:

Installation Instructions:
https://www.qimacros.com/support/qi-macros-tech-support/#install

Installed by IT?
IT, log in as the end-user prior to installation, right-click the setup file and select “Run as Administrator.”

Need Installation Assistance?

Person-to-person support is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Email:[email protected]
Phone: 303-756-9144 or 888-468-1537

PC

MAC

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 2

 QI Macros Wizards
If you are confused about which chart or statistics to use, or you are not sure how to organize or summarize your
data, QI Macros wizards can help! QI Macros is the only Six Sigma software with built-in wizards to automatically
choose charts and analysis based on your data.

Chart Wizard:
Creates all probable charts for your data (Pareto charts,
control charts, histograms, etc.) and runs descriptive statistics.

Control Chart Wizard:

Analyzes your data and creates the right control chart for you
(c, np, p, u, XmR, XbarR, or XbarS.)

Control Chart Template Wizard:

Analyzes your data, selects the right control chart template, and
inputs your data for you.

Improvement Project Wizard:

Analyzes your data, creates a pivot table, and generates an XmR chart,
defect Paretos, and a fishbone diagram – the basic charts needed for
any improvement project.

Stat Wizard: t-Test  0.05

Will analyze your data and choose the right hypothesis tests for you.
Batch 1 Batch 2
Mean 92.255 92.733

The Stat Wizard will tell you if the means and variances of two or more
Variance 5.688 8.901
t Stat -0.302
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.386
samples are the same or different – no more p values to evaluate. Cannot Reject Null Hypothesis:
p > 0.05 (Means are the same)

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 3

 Most Popular Tools
QI Macros for Excel has more than 40 charts, 30 statistical
tools and 140 Lean Six Sigma templates you can use to
reduce costs and boost profits. This guide shows you how to
use our most popular tools.
Control Charts to Analyze Stability:
Control charts are great tools for tracking processes over
time. They can tell you if your process is consistent and
Control Chart Histogram Chart
predictable or has unstable conditions that need to be
investigated.
Histograms with Cp and Cpk Capability Metrics:
Use these tools to determine if your process meets your
customer’s requirements as defined by upper and lower
specification limits.
Pareto Charts and Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagrams: Pareto Chart Fishbone (Ishikawa)
Pareto charts help narrow your focus to the “vital few”
defects, mistakes and errors. Fishbone diagrams capture t-Test 0.05

%EV 17.6%
the root causes. Batch 1 Batch 2
Mean 92.255 92.733
%AV 20.0%
Statistical Tools for Testing Hypotheses: Variance
t Stat
5.688
-0.302
8.901

Do two or more data sets have the same or different means P(T<=t) one-tail 0.386 %R&R 26.7%
and variances? Or is there a relationship between them? Cannot Reject Null Hypothesis: %PV 96.4%
Statistical tools can answer these questions. p > 0.05 (Means are the same)

Gage R&R/MSA: Statistical Tools Gage R&R/MSA

A common cause of variability in manufacturing is
measurement error. Gage R&R Studies help determine if
measurement processes are a root cause of variation and if
the variation is caused by appraisers or equipment.

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 4

 Control Charts Overview
Control charts are a great tool for analyzing and monitoring process stability
and performance. There are different types of control charts depending on
your data; they fall into two categories: attribute and variable.

Attribute Charts for Counted Data Variable Charts for Measured Data
• c Chart • XmR – Individual Moving Range Chart
• np Chart • XbarR Chart
• p Chart • XbarS Chart
• u Chart

The most commonly used control charts are:

Services (e.g., healthcare): XmR, p and u charts.
Manufacturing: XbarR, p and u charts.

Not sure which control chart to use?

The QI Macros Control Chart Wizard
will analyze your data and select the
right control chart for you.

Watch the
Control Chart Wizard Video

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 5

 Creating a Control Chart Step 1: Highlight Your Data
Highlight your Excel control chart data. If you need help set-
Creating control charts for analyzing the stability of ting up your Excel data, access sample data sets from your
a process couldn’t be easier. Just follow these steps QI Macros help menu.
and you’ll have the charts you need to determine if Step 2: Select a Control Chart
your process is consistent and predictable.
Select a control chart from the QI Macros menu or select the
Control Chart Wizard to let QI Macros select the right control
chart for you.
Step 3: Analyze and Improve
QI Macros will draw the control chart and analyze stability
for you. Red points represent unstable conditions that
should be investigated.

Watch the QI Macros

Control Chart Video Control Chart Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 6

 Capability Analysis Overview
Histograms are a great tool for evaluating process capability.
Several different types of histograms are available:

• Frequency Histogram: For consistent measurements (e.g., 0.05, 0.10, etc.)

• Histogram or Capability Suite: For variable measurements
• Weibull Histogram: For evaluating failure times of products or equipment

Process Capability Metrics

Cp – Cpk –
Capability Index Centering Index
• Measures how well the • Measures how well the
data fits between the data is centered between
USL and LSL. the USL and LSL.
• Cp ≥ 1.33 is desirable • Cpk ≥ 1.33 is desirable

Watch the
About Capability Analysis
Capability Suite Video

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 7

 Creating a Histogram Step 1: Highlight Your Data
Highlight your histogram Excel data (Access sample histogram
with Cp & Cpk data sets from the QI Macros help menu.)
Step 2: Select a Histogram
Creating histograms for capability analysis couldn’t
be easier. Just follow these steps and you’ll have the Select a histogram from the QI Macros menu and enter the
charts you need to evaluate if your process is meet- Upper Specification Limit (USL) and Lower Specification Limit
ing your customer requirements. (LSL) at the prompts.
Step 3: Analyze and Improve
Cp>1: Process is capable
Cpk>1 Process is capable and centered between the LSL and
USL

QI Macros
Histograms & Capability

Capability Suite
Histogram Cp Cpk
Histogram (Weibull)
Frequency Histogram

Watch the QI Macros

Histogram Video Histogram Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 8

 Lean Six Sigma Tools Overview
More than 40 charts and 140 Lean Six Sigma templates exist in QI Macros.
Improvement projects fall into two main categories: reducing defects or reducing
deviation (i.e., variation):
Reducing Defects Reducing Deviation
• XmR, p or u Control Charts • Capability Suite
• Pareto Chart • XbarR Control Charts
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram • Histograms
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram

Pareto Chart

Control Chart Fishbone (Ishikawa)

Histogram Chart

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 9

 Creating a Pareto Chart
Creating Pareto charts to identify the biggest causes of defects, mistakes and
errors is simple. Follow the steps below and you’ll have the chart you need to
create powerful improvement projects.
Step 1: Highlight Your Data
Highlight your Pareto Excel data or access sample Pareto data sets from the
QI Macros help menu.
Step 2: Select Pareto Chart
Select Pareto Chart from the QI Macros menu.
Step 3: Analyze and Improve
Each colored bar on the left side of the Pareto chart could be used as
the problem statement in the head of the Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram.

Category Count QI Macros

Conveyor Failure 71 Pareto
Flooding 20
Generator Failure 346 Fishbone
Safety 26 Chart Templates
Training 34

Watch the QI Macros

Pareto Chart Video Pareto Chart Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 10

 Creating a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram
Creating Fishbone diagrams for root cause analysis is easy. Follow the steps below and you’ll
have the diagram you need to identify the root causes of defects and deviation.
Step 1: Select the Fishbone Template
Select Fishbone from the QI Macros Menu.
Step 2: Fill in the text for the main bones and 5 Whys.
Step 3: Click the Create Fishbone button.

QI Macros Process Step 1 - Why? Why?

Why?
Fishbone Why?
Fishbone Step 2 - Why? Why?
Why?
Countermeasures Matrix
Why?
Action Plan
People Category - Why? Why?
Why?
Why?

Watch the Fishbone QI Macros Fishbone

Diagram Video Diagram Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 11

 Statistical Tools Overview
Hypothesis testing is a great way to evaluate two or more methods of production or materials. QI Macros has over a
dozen types of statistical tools. Most fall into three main categories: 1) comparing means, 2) comparing variances, and
3) analyzing relationships.

Means Variances Relationship

• ANOVA • F-Test • Correlation
• t-Test • Levene’s Test • Paired t-Test
• Covariance
• Regression

Not sure which statistic to use?

The QI Macros Stat Wizard
analyzes your data and select
the most appropriate statistical
tests for you.

Watch the
Stat Wizard Video

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 12

Performing Statistical Step 1: Highlight Your Data:
Highlight your Excel data or access sample data sets from the QI Macros
Analysis help menu.
Step 2: Select a Statistical Test:
Doing hypothesis testing couldn’t be easier.
Follow these steps and you’ll have the Select a statistical tool from the QI Macros menu or select Stat Wizard.
analysis you need to identify optimal results. Step 3: Analyze and Improve
QI Macros does the math and interprets the results for you. A p value of
less than 0.05 indicates significant differences in means or variances.

QI Macros Insert Page Layout

Batch 1 Batch 2 t-Test a 0.05
Stat Wizard Lean Tools Improvement
91.50 89.19 Batch 1 Batch 2
Statistical Tools Diagrams DOE Gage Mean 92.255 92.733
94.18 90.95
Variance 5.688 8.901
92.18 90.46 Descriptive Statistics - Normality Test
t Stat -0.302
95.39 93.21 ANOVA Single Factor P(T<=t) one-tail 0.386
91.79 97.19
F & t-Tests Cannot Reject Null Hypothesis:
p > 0.05 (Means are the same)

Watch the QI Macros QI Macros

t-Test Video Statistics Tool Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 13

 Gage R&R Study Overview
Gage R&R Studies are great tools for evaluating if your measurement system is repeat-
able and reproducible. Several types of Gage R&R Studies exist in QI Macros:

• Average and Range

2-3 Appraisers and 2-5 Trials of 10 parts
• ANOVA
• Type 1 50 trials of a single part
• Attribute Used for Pass/Fail Gages – 3 Appraisers and 3 trials
The QI Macros Gage R&R Template contains a separate
tab for each of these study types.

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 14

 Performing a Step 1: Gather Your Data
Use your own data or access Ford’s sample data (AIAG SPC.xls)
Gage R&R Study from the QI Macros help menu.
Step 2: Select the Gage R&R Template
Performing a Gage R&R study is easy. Follow these
steps to determine if your measurement system is okay Select Gage R&R. from the QI Macros menu.
or needs improvement. Step 3: Input The Data Input your data in the yellow cells provided.
Step 4: Analyze and Improve:
NDC < 5: You need to use parts with more variation.
NDC > 5: Evaluate the %R&R. A %R&R less than 10% is acceptable.

Appraiser 1 Trial 1 3.64 3.94

QI Macros %EV 17.6%
Trial 2 3.58 3.93
DOE GageR&R FMEA Trial 3 3.62 3.90 %AV 20.0%
EMEA Appraiser 2 Trial 1 3.59 3.92
%R&R 26.7%
Trial 2 3.63 3.91
FMEA
Trial 3 3.63 3.95 %PV 96.4%
Gage R&R

QI Macros
Watch the Gage R&R Video
Gage R&R Advantages

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 15

 Other Resources
Click on links below to download Quick Reference Cards and User Guide

QI Macros Wizards

Control Charts

Capability Analysis

Statistics

Gage R&R

QI Macros User Guide

View All of Our Free Training Resources

www.qimacros.com How To Guide 16