5 Minute Lesson Continuous Improvement Methods Affinity Diagrams

5 Minute Lesson: Continuous Improvement Methods Affinity Diagrams & Interrelationship Diagraphs Dr. Jamison V. Kovach Assistant Professor, College of Technology & Director, UH-Six Sigma Program Phone: 713 -743 -1704 Email: jvkovach@uh. edu Website: www. uhsixsigma. com

Affinity Diagrams Basic Format: Purpose: • Used subsequent to brainstorming sessions – Identify issues associated with a particular problem • Organize ideas into natural relationships – Moves habitual thinking beyond preconceived ideas Created by Jiro Kawakita Also known as: KJ method • Helps to converge on a number of themes that can be addressed later to deal with the problem 2

Constructing an Affinity Diagram 3

Constructing an Affinity Diagram Brainstorming Grouping Establishing Themes 4

Constructing an Affinity Diagram 5

Example of an Affinity Diagram 6

Interrelationship Diagraphs Basic Format: Purpose: • Used subsequent to: – Affinity diagram – Cause-and-effect diagram – Tree diagram • Analyze the links between ideas – Allows the key issues to emerge naturally Also known as: Relations diagram • Identify areas of greatest impact – Root cause(s) – Key drivers and outcomes 7

Constructing an Interrelationship Diagraph Ideas from a previous tool or a brainstorming session Look for cause- effect relationships between all of the ideas and draw relationship arrows. 8

Constructing an Interrelationship Diagraph • Tally the number of outgoing and incoming arrows for each item – Key driver = Highest number of outgoing arrows – Key outcome = Highest number of incoming arrows 9

Urban Poverty Example 10

Resort Management Example 11

5 Minute Lesson: Continuous Improvement Methods Dr. Jamison V. Kovach Assistant Professor, College of Technology Director, UH-Six Sigma Program Phone: 713 -743 -1704 Email: jvkovach@uh. edu www. tmacgc. org www. uhsixsigma. com