A. ISHIKAWA DIAGRAM
B. THE CHECK SHEET
C. THE CONTROL CHART
D.THE HISTOGRAM
E. THE PARETO CHART
A Pareto chart, also called a Pareto distribution diagram, is a vertical bar graphin which values are plotted in decreasing order of relative frequency from left to right. Pareto charts are extremely useful for analyzing what problems need attention first because the taller bars on the chart, which represent frequency, clearly illustrate which variables have the greatest cumulative effect on a given system.
The Pareto chart gets its name from Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian Economist. In 1906, Pareto noted that 20% of the population in Italy owned 80% of the property. He proposed that this ratio could be found many places in the physical world and theorized it might be a natural law, where 80% of the outcomes are determined by 20% of the inputs.
In the 1940s, Pareto’s theory was advanced by Dr. Joseph Juran, an American electrical engineer who is widely credited with being the father of quality control. It was Dr. Juran who decided to call the 80/20 ratio the "The Pareto Principle." Applying the Pareto Principle to business metrics helps to separate the "vital few" (the 20% that has the most impact) from the "useful many" (the other 80%). The chart illustrates the Pareto Principle by mapping frequency, with the assumption that the more frequently something happens, the more impact it has on outcome.
The Pareto chart is one of the seven basic tools of quality control. The independent variables on the chart are shown on the horizontal axis and the dependent variables are portrayed as the heights of bars. A point-to-point graph, which shows the cumulative relative frequency, may be superimposed on the bar graph. Because the values of the statistical variables are placed in order of relative frequency, the graph clearly reveals which factors have the greatest impact and where attention is likely to yield the greatest benefit.
A Simple Example
A Pareto chart can be used to quickly identify what business issues need attention. By using hard data instead of intuition, there can be no question about what problems are influencing the outcome most. In the example below, XYZ Clothing Store was seeing a steady decline in business. Before the manager did a customer survey, he assumed the decline was due to customer dissatisfaction with the clothing line he was selling and he blamed his supply chain for his problems. After charting the frequency of the answers in his customer survey, however, it was very clear that the real reasons for the decline of his business had nothing to do with his supply chain. By collecting data and displaying it in a Pareto chart, the manager could see which variables were having the most influence. In this example, parking difficulties, rude sales people and poor lighting were hurting his business most. Following the Pareto Principle, those are the areas where he should focus his attention to build his business back up.
F.THE SCATTER DIAGRAM
G. THE FLOW CHART
What is a Flow Chart?
A typical definition of "Flow Chart" usually reads something like ...
A flow chart is a graphical or symbolic representation of a process. Each step in the process is represented by a different symbol and contains a short description of the process step. The flow chart symbols are linked together with arrows showing the process flow direction.
A Note on Flowchart Symbols
Different flow chart symbols have different meanings. The most common flow chart symbols are:
- Terminator: An oval flow chart shape indicating the start or end of the process.
- Process: A rectangular flow chart shape indicating a normal process flow step.
- Decision: A diamond flow chart shape indication a branch in the process flow.
- Connector: A small, labeled, circular flow chart shape used to indicate a jump in the process flow.
- Data: A parallelogram that indicates data input or output (I/O) for a process.
- Document: used to indicate a document or report (see image in sample flow chart below).
TABLE OF FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
(aka, Flowchart Shapes, Business Process Map Symbols)
| Symbol | Symbol Name (alias) | Symbol Description |
|---|---|---|
| Process / Operation Symbols | ||
 | Process | Show a Process or action step. This is the most common symbol in both process flowcharts and business process maps. |
 | Predefined Process (Subroutine) | A Predefined Process symbol is a marker for another process step or series of process flow steps that are formally defined elsewhere. This shape commonly depicts sub-processes (or subroutines in programming flowcharts). If the sub-process is considered "known" but not actually defined in a process procedure, work instruction, or some other process flowchart or documentation, then it is best not to use this symbol since it implies a formally defined process. |
 | Alternate Process | As the shape name suggests, this flowchart symbol is used when the process flow step is an alternate to the normal process step. Flow lines into an alternate process flow step are typically dashed. |
 | Delay | The Delay flowchart symbol depicts any waiting period that is part of a process. Delay shapes are common in process mapping. |
 | Preparation | As the names states, any process step that is a Preparation process flow step, such as a set-up operation. |
 | Manual Operation | Manual Operations flowchart shapes show which process steps are not automated. In data processing flowcharts, this data flow shape indicates a looping operation along with a loop limit symbol (which is not supported by Microsoft Office, but a Manual Operation symbol rotated 180° will do the trick.) |
| Branching and Control of Flow Symbols | ||
 | Flow Line (Arrow, Connector) | Flow line connectors show the direction that the process flows. |
 | Terminator (Terminal Point, Oval) | Terminators show the start and stop points in a process. When used as a Start symbol, terminators depict a trigger action that sets the process flow into motion. |
 | Decision | Indicates a question or branch in the process flow. Typically, a Decision flowchart shape is used when there are 2 options (Yes/No, No/No-Go, etc.) |
 | Connector (Inspection) | Flowchart: In flowcharts, this symbol is typically small and is used as a Connector to show a jump from one point in the process flow to another. Connectors are usually labeled with capital letters (A, B, AA) to show matching jump points. They are handy for avoiding flow lines that cross other shapes and flow lines. They are also handy for jumping to and from a sub-processes defined in a separate area than the main flowchart. Process Mapping: In process maps, this symbol is full sized and shows an Inspection point in the process flow. [Just to confuse things further, some people will use a circle to indicate an operation and a square to indicate an inspection. That's why it's important to include a symbol key in the flowchart.] |
 | Off-Page Connector | Off-Page Connector shows continuation of a process flowchart onto another page. When using them in conjunction with Connectors, it's best to differentiate the labels, e.g. use numbers for Off-Page Connectors and capital letters for Connectors. In actual practice, most flowcharts just use the Connect shape for both on-page and off-page references. |
 | Merge (Storage) | Flowchart: Shows the merging of multiple processes or information into one. Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of raw materials. |
 | Extract (Measurement) | Flowchart: Shows when a process splits into parallel paths. Also commonly indicates a Measurement, with a capital 'M' inside the symbol. Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of finished goods. |
 | Or | The logical Or symbol shows when a process diverges - usually for more than 2 branches. When using this symbol, it is important to label the out-going flow lines to indicate the criteria to follow each branch. |
 | Summing Junction | The logical Summing Junction flowchart shape is shows when multiple branches converge into a single process. The merge symbol is more common for this use, though. This symbol and the Or symbol are really more relevant in data processing flow diagrams than in process flowcharts. |
| Input and Output Symbols | ||
 | Data (I/O) | The Data flowchart shape indicates inputs to and outputs from a process. As such, the shape is more often referred to as an I/O shape than a Data shape. |
 | Document | Pretty self explanatory - the Document flowchart symbol is for a process step that produces a document. |
 | Multi-Document | Same as Document, except, well, multiple documents. This shape is not as commonly used as the Document flowchart shape, even when multiple documents are implied. |
 | Display | Indicates a process step where information is displayed to a person (e.g., PC user, machine operator). |
 | Manual Input | Manual Input flowchart shapes show process steps where the operator/ user is prompted for information that must be manually input into a system. |
 | Card | This is the companion to the punched tape flowchart shapes. This shape is seldom used. |
 | Punched Tape | If you're very good at stretching all the life out of a machine, you may still have use for the Punched Tape symbol - used for input into old computers and CNC machines. |
| File and Information Storage Symbols | ||
 | Stored Data | A general Data Storage flowchart shape used for any process step that stores data (as opposed to the more specific shapes to follow next in this table). |
 | Magnetic Disk (Database) | The most universally recognizable symbol for a data storage location, this flowchart shape depicts a database. |
 | Direct Access Storage | Direct Access Storage is a fancy way of saying Hard Drive. |
 | Internal Storage | Used in programming flowcharts to mean information stored in memory, as opposed to on a file. |
 | Sequential Access Storage (Magnetic Tape) | Although it looks like a 'Q', the symbol is supposed to look like a reel of tape. |
| Data Processing Symbols | ||
 | Collate | The Collate flowchart shape indicates a process step that requires organizing data, information, or materials according into a standard format or arrangement. |
 | Sort | Indicates the sorting of data, information, materials into some pre-defined order. |
Caveat: The descriptions given above are written from the perspective of someone using them to create process flow charts, whereas many of the flowchart symbols actually have their roots in the data processing diagrams and programming flow charts. So, not all the flowcharting shapes shown below may be relevant to your needs.
The flowchart symbol names in parentheses are common alternates for a given shape. Sometimes a flowchart shape can have more than one meaning, as with the Circle shape, which depicts a jump node in flow charts and inspection point in business process mapping. Other times, there are just multiple names for the same flow chart symbol - such as Terminator and Terminal Point.
THE 4 MOST COMMONLY USED FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
The vast majority of flowcharts rely on just 4 of the process symbols to do all the heavy lifting:Terminator, Process, Decision, and Connector. In fact, if you use other flowcharting shapes, many people won't know what they are for, so you should probably add a shape symbol key to your flowchart.
ABOUT THE FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
You might think that an expensive flowchart software package is required to make presentation-quality flowcharts. It isn't. All the shapes used in this article were created in Microsoft Excel, complete with the softened outlines, gradient fills, and drop shadows.
