Pareto analysis

Pareto analysis
See also
Logigram Quality costs record Distributed cost Negative correlation 7 quality tools Threshold productivity Comparative analysis Analysis of variance Analytic network process

Pareto Analysis is a decision making tool used to prioritize problem areas and find solutions. It is based on the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of effects are due to 20% of the causes. This analysis focuses on the 20% of the causes that can have the greatest impact on a given problem.

The Pareto Analysis is a valuable tool for decision making because it helps to identify and prioritize the most important factors in a given situation. This allows for more efficient and effective solutions to be found.

Example of Pareto analysis

A Pareto Analysis can be used to determine which of a company's products are most profitable. After collecting data related to the sales of each product, a Pareto chart can be created to show the contribution of each product to the company's overall profits. By prioritizing the products with the biggest contribution, the company can then focus their resources on improving those products and maximize their profits.

In conclusion, Pareto Analysis is a decision-making tool based on the Pareto Principle which helps to prioritize problem areas and identify solutions. It involves collecting data, analyzing it, and creating a Pareto chart to identify the most significant causes. This tool is valuable for decision making because it helps to identify and prioritize the most important factors in a given situation, allowing for more efficient and effective solutions to be found.

Formula of Pareto analysis

The formula for Pareto Analysis is:

${\text{Cumulative percentage}}={\frac {\text{Cumulative frequency}}{\text{Total frequency}}}\times 100$

This formula calculates the cumulative percentage of each cause based on the cumulative frequency (the sum of the frequencies up to that point) and the total frequency (the sum of all frequencies). The cumulative percentage represents the total contribution of each cause to the overall problem.

When to use Pareto analysis

Pareto Analysis is best used when a large number of causes are contributing to a problem, and it is difficult to identify the most significant ones. This analysis tool can be used to identify the most important causes and prioritize them in order to find the most efficient solutions to the problem.

Steps of Pareto analysis

The Pareto Analysis involves five steps to effectively prioritize areas of improvement and focus decision making.

• Step 1: Identify the problem or area requiring improvement. This step involves determining what is causing the issue or what needs to be improved.
• Step 2: Collect data related to the problem. This step involves gathering data related to the problem to analyze.
• Step 3: Analyze the data and identify the most significant causes. This step involves analyzing the data to determine which factors are causing the most issues.
• Step 4: Create a Pareto chart that visually represents the data. This step involves creating a chart that shows the relative importance of the factors.
• Step 5: Prioritize the causes based on the chart and take action. This step involves prioritizing the causes and taking action to address the most important ones first.

The Pareto Analysis is a valuable decision making tool that can help to identify and prioritize the most important factors in a given situation. By focusing on the most important causes, more efficient and effective solutions can be found.

Advantages of Pareto analysis

• Cost-effective: The Pareto Analysis is cost-effective because it only focuses on the 20% of the causes that have the greatest impact on the situation. This allows resources to be used more efficiently.
• Data-driven: All decisions made through the Pareto Analysis are based on data that has been collected, analyzed, and visualized. This ensures that decisions are based on facts and not just opinions.
• Visualization: The Pareto chart provides a visual representation of the data which makes it easier to interpret and understand.

Limitations of Pareto analysis

Although Pareto Analysis is a valuable decision-making tool, it does have some limitations. First, the 80/20 rule is an estimate, and the exact proportions of cause and effect may vary in different situations. Second, Pareto Analysis relies on accurate data collection and analysis, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Finally, the Pareto chart can only provide a general overview of the data, and may not provide enough detail to identify specific solutions.

Other approaches related to Pareto analysis

In addition to the Pareto Analysis, there are other decision making approaches related to the Pareto Principle, such as the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule states that 80% of a given result is due to 20% of the inputs. This approach can be used to identify and prioritize the most important factors in a given situation. For example, if a company is looking to increase sales, the 80/20 rule could be used to identify the 20% of customers who are most likely to purchase a product or service.

Similarly, the Pareto Principle can be used to identify the 20% of processes or activities that are responsible for 80% of a company's costs. This approach can be used to identify potential areas of cost savings and help to create more efficient processes.

In summary, Pareto Analysis is a decision making tool used to prioritize problem areas and find solutions. It is based on the Pareto Principle and involves collecting data, analyzing it, and creating a chart to identify the most significant causes. Additionally, there are other related approaches such as the 80/20 rule that can be used to identify and prioritize important factors and potential areas of cost savings.

Suggested literature

• Powell, T., & Sammut-Bonnici, T. (2014). Pareto analysis.
• Bajaj, S., Garg, R., & Sethi, M. (2018). Total quality management: a critical literature review using Pareto analysis. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 67(1), 128-154.