Which of the following is a common tool used in quality management?

A Pareto chart is particularly valuable in quality management because it visually represents the frequency or impact of problems within a process, allowing teams to identify the most significant issues to address first. This is derived from the Pareto principle, which asserts that roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes. By focusing on the vital few issues that contribute the most to the quality problem, organizations can make more effective and prioritized improvements. This targeted approach helps streamline efforts and resources toward resolving key quality issues, ultimately enhancing overall performance.

The other options serve different functions and are not primarily tools of quality management. Gantt charts are used for project scheduling and tracking progress over time, labor market analysis focuses on workforce trends and employment statistics, and financial forecasting is concerned with predicting future financial conditions and performance. These tools may support operations management in various ways but do not specifically analyze or improve quality.