Is compliance with the maintenance schedule being enforced?.Does the person responsible for maintaining the vehicle know he/she is accountable to maintain it?.Have you looked at the company policy and does it need improvement?.Is not maintaining the company vehicle according to policy a root cause? That sounds like a problem but I would not call that a root cause. Why? The company vehicle was not maintained according to the company policy. Why? The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and not replaced. Problem: The company vehicle will not start. (“The company vehicle will not start.”) Then, we’ll ask the first ‘why.” “Why is the company vehicle not starting?” To wrap it up, we’ll ask “why” four more times, framing each “why” in response to the answer we’ve just recorded. ![]() ![]() Let’s conduct a fast 5-Whys investigation! First, we’ll assemble the investigation team. When these things happen, the wrong corrective actions are developed, and the same problems arise again. You will also not be able to get beyond the collective knowledge and experience of the team. Without evidence proving the problem occurred, and a structured way to analyze the problem, the wrong root causes may be selected and/or not all of the root causes will be identified. These are good activities, but is that really root cause analysis? It’s kind of like the child’s card game, “ Go Fish.” Even a kindergartener can do it! Some believe that the benefits of brainstorming are collecting different viewpoints and encouraging a deeper level of critical thinking. Everyone in the group gives an idea in rotation (or passes his/her opportunity to give an idea) until the next round. Brainstormingīrainstorming is a group process. That sounds really nice, but do they really do the job? Let’s take a look at each “fast” root cause analysis technique. The best way to understand affinity diagrams is to look at some examples of affinity diagrams.Febru| Barb Carr “Fast” Root Cause Analysis: Brainstorming, 5-Whys and Fishbone Diagramsīrainstorming, 5-Whys and Fishbone Diagrams are “go-to” root cause analysis techniques for many investigators because they are simple to learn and apply. This will help the team reach a decision or come to a better understanding of the key issues to address. Continue to divide the factors until each has been placed under an appropriate category.Īnalyze the affinity diagram with team members. Place each of the factors within its associated grouping to begin. These groupings should be shown in a logical, natural way and should be able to encompass more than one of the minor factors.ĭecide what major information, ideas, or issues to include. Enter an appropriate title at the top of the page.Ĭreate major categories into which the solutions or factors can be arranged. Best Practices When Creating Affinity Diagramsĭetermine the issue or aspect of business that will be the focus of the affinity diagram. ![]() Project Managers use them to organize a large number of ideas so team members are better able to see the patterns in what's been discussed and help identify potential solutions to problems.Īffinity diagrams often lead to the creation of more detailed cause and effect diagrams. With SmartDraw, you can also quickly add more columns and rows just with a click of a button.Īffinity diagrams come in handy after a big brainstorming session. A basic affinity diagram template will have some sample groups and empty rows and columns you can start filling out just by typing. The diagram is basically organized into columns and rows. SmartDraw makes creating professional affinity diagrams simple, with easy-to-use templates allowing you to create diagrams in minutes. Other tools include: interrelationship diagram, tree diagram, prioritization matrix, matrix diagram, process decision program chart, and activity network diagram. They help prioritize actions and improve group decision-making when resources are limited.īy the 1970s, affinity diagrams were part of what's known as the Seven Management and Planning Tools, an approach to process improvement used in Total Quality Control in Japan. The History of Affinity DiagramsĪffinity diagrams were invented by Jiro Kawakita in the 1960s, who called this diagram the K-J Method. It allows a broad range of ideas to be organized so they can be more effectively analyzed. Affinity Diagram What is an Affinity Diagram?Īn affinity diagram shows the relationships between information, opinions, problems, solutions, and issues by placing them in related groups.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |