It is stick season here; the
time in between foliage season and ski season. I
have come to really appreciate the beauty of the
bare, leafless trees that grace our countryside. Each
type of tree has a distinct pattern; some perfectly
round, others oblong, and some are just wild looking,
but the pattern tells you what kind of tree it is.
Patterns are helpful in solving quality-related
problems too and one of the best tools for displaying
a pattern is the concentration diagram.
Concentration diagrams are the embodiment of the
old adage: "A picture is worth a thousand words." A
concentration diagram is a visual data display tool
that literally shows where defects or problems are
concentrated. Seeing the pattern of
defects can often be the catalyst to get to the root cause(s) of a problem and ensure the problem is
solved for good.
Since
concentration diagrams literally paint a picture of the
problem,
they are one of
the most powerful data collection/display/analysis
tools we have. Unfortunately,
they are one of the most underutilized tools as
well.
Concentration diagrams are incredibly easy to use; data collection
and data analysis are both a snap and are done in just one step, not
two separate steps. There is no need to develop forms to collect
data; depending on the scope of the study, a print of the part, a
map of the area or a copy of a procedural form can be used to
collect the data.
The dots or "x's" used to plot incidents or instances of the
problem or defect create a visual display that usually provides
clues to potential causes of the problem. Using the picture of
the data (the concentration diagram), ask the following
questions about what you are seeing:
Is there a pattern here and what could it be telling
us?
Why are the defects concentrated in a particular area
or areas?
Why are there NOT defects in some areas? (Sometimes
this question is as important as why there are problems in other areas.)
What could be causing the pattern?
Developing "theories" to help answer these questions should put
you on the path to finding the root cause(s).
Add more visual clues by color-coding the data
plotted. For example, use red dots or "x's" for 1st
shift,
green for 2nd shift, blue for 3rd shift to further
segment the data and highlight concentrations by
sub-category.
Combine two data collection tools at the same
time. For example, combine a workflow diagram and
a concentration diagram to show each "stop" a part
makes in a production process.
Use transparency film to collect data for specific
periods of time, and then stack the transparencies
on top of each other to search for similarities (or
differences) in the concentration of defects.
Our
8D computer-based training
program provides
comprehensive training in the 8-
Discipline
problem-solving process. With 8D
Problem-Solving you
will not only learn a systematic
way to tackle
problems but you will have access
to
tutorials on 48
problem-solving tools as well.
8D Problem-Solving has
two units: Getting Started and
the 8Discipline
Process. The Getting Started unit
focuses on the
importance of data in any problem-
solving process
and the role of teams versus
individuals (working
alone) in solving problems. In Unit
2, the
8Discipline Process, there are
eight lessons, one
for each discipline.
At the end of each
unit, learners take the
"Challenge" to test
their comprehension of the body
of knowledge covered
in the unit. Want to try out a free
lesson on 8D
Problem-Solving? Click
here.
We hope that this issue of our newsletter has gotten
you thinking about how you might be able to use
concentration diagrams in your job and on problem-
solving teams. Concentration diagrams are a great
way to collect and display data. With a little
creativity you may find
that they become your favorite and most helpful QI
tool.
It is stick season here; the
time in between foliage season and ski season. I
have come to really appreciate the beauty of the
bare, leafless trees that grace our countryside. Each
type of tree has a distinct pattern; some perfectly
round, others oblong, and some are just wild looking,
but the pattern tells you what kind of tree it is.
Patterns are helpful in solving quality-related
problems too and one of the best tools for displaying
a pattern is the concentration diagram.
Concentration diagrams are the embodiment of the
old adage: "A picture is worth a thousand words." A
concentration diagram is a visual data display tool
that literally shows where defects or problems are
concentrated. Seeing the pattern of
defects can often be the catalyst to get to the root cause(s) of a problem and ensure the problem is
solved for good.
Since
concentration diagrams literally paint a picture of the
problem,
they are one of
the most powerful data collection/display/analysis
tools we have. Unfortunately,
they are one of the most underutilized tools as
well.
Concentration diagrams are incredibly easy to use; data collection
and data analysis are both a snap and are done in just one step, not
two separate steps. There is no need to develop forms to collect
data; depending on the scope of the study, a print of the part, a
map of the area or a copy of a procedural form can be used to
collect the data. 
Add more visual clues by color-coding the data
plotted. For example, use red dots or "x's" for 1st
shift,
green for 2nd shift, blue for 3rd shift to further
segment the data and highlight concentrations by
sub-category.
Our
8D computer-based training
program provides
comprehensive training in the 8-
Discipline
problem-solving process. With 8D
Problem-Solving you
will not only learn a systematic
way to tackle
problems but you will have access
to
tutorials on 48
problem-solving tools as well.