Pareto Diagram

DOE-HDBK-1103-96

The facilitator: 1) Writes the problem in the middle of a page and draws a circle

around the word(s). 2) Asks "what are the causes or solutions of the problem?"

3) As ideas surface, writes the key words in the space around the circled

problem. 4) Circles keys words and draws spokes from the key words to the

problem, and 5) Extends other ideas out from the first level of causes (solutions).

The facilitator should always write everything down. Unnecessary items can be

eliminated later.

Pareto Diagram. If the use of

4.6.6

NGT/CDM and document

reviews results in recordable

100

information such as the

frequency of occurrences, the

costs associated with an event,

or production time lost due to

an event, then using a Pareto

diagram to chart this

information can be effective.

Using a Pareto diagram to chart recordable information against a number of

events is a useful technique for making decisions and presenting the information

to those requesting the needs analysis. A Pareto diagram shows the largest

cause of the problem and ranks the rest. Pareto Diagrams are a visual

representation used to assist the analysis process by establishing priorities and

to aid in communication to show how decisions are made on facts, not just

opinions. The visual representation (comparison) graphically distinguishes the

significant problems or causes from the less significant.

The team groups the problems, causes, and costs into categories and makes a

column graph with each column representing a category (always ordered from

the highest priority on the left to the lowest on the right). The team then decides

on the biggest problem and rank the rest. They then determine the most

important cause and rank the rest.