Statistical methods provide problem-solving tools to the
TQM process. According to Perisco,they provide teams
with the tools to identify the causes of quality problems, to
communicate in a precise language that can be understood
by all team members, to verify, repeat, and reproduce
measurements based on data, to determine the past,
present, and to a lesser degree, the future status of a work
process, and to make decisions on facts that are based on
data rather than the opinions and preferences of individuals or groups. The most commonly used statistical methods in
the TQM process include histograms, cause and effect
diagrams, check sheets, Pareto diagrams, graphs, control
charts, and scatter diagrams