Define
SIPOC Diagram Builder
See the big picture: suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, and customers.
Define · Interactive CI tool
CTQ Tree Builder (CTQC)
A Critical-to-Quality Characteristic (CTQC) tree connects a customer need to drivers and measurable requirements. A driver describes what contributes to the need; an operational definition explains exactly how a requirement will be measured.
Read freely. Creating a worksheet requires a verified free beta account. No payment or manual beta approval.
When this tool helps
Use it when customer language is broad, teams disagree about a measure, or an improvement needs a clear acceptance requirement.
It turns vague requests such as “make it faster” into measures that two observers can apply consistently. It helps a team agree what success means before collecting data.
When to choose another method
Use a SIPOC first if the process boundaries are unclear. Use a Data Collection Plan after the definition is agreed; a CTQC tree does not collect observations.
How to use it in CI Tools
- Read the guide and agree the question, definitions and required starting information.
- Open a separate blank worksheet or the built-in synthetic practice sample. Follow the tool-specific steps and review its warnings.
- Check the interpretation and save an editable .citools file to your computer. Keep reports as separate exports.
Fictional example snapshot
Invoice response clarity
A fictional supplier helpdesk wants reliable responses to invoice queries.
| Need → driver | Clear payment information → timely first useful response |
|---|---|
| Metric | Working hours from receipt to a response that answers the question |
| Population | Invoice queries received on staffed weekdays; exclude duplicates |
These figures illustrate the method; they are not clinical instructions, universal targets or verified results from a real organization.
Read the complete worked example and its interpretationLearn the method, then put it into practice
The full guide includes prerequisites, interface-specific steps, two fictional examples, common mistakes and interpretation help. It is available without registration.
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