PROBLEM ANALYSIS TOOLS: FISHBONE DIAGRAM, MATRIX DIAGRAM AND SCATTER PLOT DIAGRAM

Presented to Dr. Betty Polido in partial fulfilment for the Subject N414-F

Torreres, Nicel Ann M. Tohoy, Evan Cristy S. July 3, 2012

Objectives:
Define fishbone diagram, matrix diagram and scatter plot diagram Enumerate situations when fishbone diagram or cause and effect diagram should be used Differentiate the six shaped matrix diagram Describe the steps involved in a matrix diagram Enumerate situation when to use a scatter plot diagram Explain the scatter plot diagram procedure Discuss how a fishbone diagram is constructed

Introduction
Problem analysis tool is useful in solving problems within an organization, group or team. It is helpful in citing, analysing and acquiring possible solutions to the problem cited. It makes problem solving and decision making easy and convenient.

Fishbone Diagram or Cause and Effect Diagram

Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa, a Japanese quality control statistician and a pioneer in quality management, invented the fishbone diagram. The technique was then published in his 1990 book, "Introduction to Quality Control." Therefore, it may be referred to as the Ishikawa diagram. The fishbone diagram is an analysis tool that provides a systematic way of looking at effects and the causes that create or contribute to those effects. Because of the function of the fishbone diagram, it may be referred to as a cause-and-effect diagram. The design of the diagram looks much like the skeleton of a fish. Therefore, it is often referred to as the fishbone diagram.

Cause and Effect Diagrams are useful in identifying and isolating the cause, or the major causes, of a problem. This diagram lists the problem at one end of a horizontal line. Diagonal branches are drawn from this line for each major category of possible causes. More specific, contributory causes are added to the branch for each category.
Whatever name you choose, remember that the value of the fishbone diagram is to assist teams in categorizing the many potential causes of problems or issues in an orderly way and in identifying root causes.

When should a fishbone diagram be used? Does the team...

Need to study a problem/issue to determine the root cause? Want to study all the possible reasons why a process is beginning to have difficulties, problems, or breakdowns? Need to identify areas for data collection? Want to study why a process is not performing properly or producing the desired results?

How is a fishbone diagram constructed? Basic Steps: 1. Draw the fishbone diagram. 2. List the problem/issue to be studied in the "head of the fish". 3. Label each ""bone" of the "fish". The major categories typically utilized are: The 4 Ms: Methods, Machines, Materials, Manpower The 4 Ps: Place, Procedure, People, Policies The 4 Ss: Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems, Skills

Note: You may use one of the four categories suggested, combine them in any fashion or make up your own. The categories are to help you organize your ideas. 4. Use an idea-generating technique (e.g., brainstorming) to identify the factors within each category that may be affecting the problem/issue and/or effect being studied. The team should ask... "What are the machine-issues affecting/causing..." 5. Repeat this procedure with each factor under the category to produce sub-factors. Continue asking, "Why is this happening?" and put additional segments each factor and subsequently under each sub-factor.

6. Continue until you no longer get useful information as you ask, "Why is that happening?" 7. Analyze the results of the fishbone after team members agree that an adequate amount of detail has been provided under each major category. Do this by looking for those items that appear in more than one category. These become the 'most likely causes". 8. For those items identified as the "most likely causes", the team should reach consensus on listing those items in priority order with the first item being the most probable" cause.

Example of a Fishbone or Cause and Effect Diagram

Matrix Diagram or Quality Function Deployment

The matrix diagram or quality function deployment shows the relationship between two, three or four groups of information. It also can give information about the relationship, such as its strength, the roles played by various individuals or measurements. Six differently shaped matrices are possible: L, T, Y, X, C and roofshaped, depending on how many groups must be compared.

When to Use Each Matrix Diagram Shape In the examples, matrix axes have been shaded to emphasize the letter that gives each matrix its name. An Lshaped matrix relates two groups of items to each other (or one group to itself). A Tshaped matrix relates three groups of items: groups B and C are each related to A. Groups B and C are not related to each other.

A Yshaped matrix relates three groups of items. Each group is related to the other two in a circular fashion. A Cshaped matrix relates three groups of items all together simultaneously, in 3-D. An Xshaped matrix relates four groups of items. Each group is related to two others in a circular fashion. A roofshaped matrix relates one group of items to itself. It is usually used along with an L or T shaped matrix.

Table 1: When to use differently-shaped matrices

L-shaped T-shaped Y-shaped C-shaped X-shaped Roofshaped

2 groups 3 groups 3 groups 3 groups 4 groups A 1 group A B B

A A A C

B (or A C but not B B C

A) C A C

All three simultaneously (3-D) D A but not A or B D B in L or T

A when also A

Frequently Used Matrix Diagram Symbols

The L shape and T shape matrix are the most commonly used matrix diagrams. Matrix consists of rows and columns. The columns are used for representing sub-categories of one variable and the rows represent sub-categories of the second variable. These two variables should have a relationship. The matrix brings down the correlation between the two variables.

Steps involved in a Matrix Diagram 1.Select the problem. 2.Form a team with 4-5 people. 3.Choose a facilitator for the coordination of the teams activities. 4.Determine the product or process variables to be studied. 5.Decide on the matrix shape based on task. 6.Place the information in the matrix. 7.Draw the lines of the matrix. 8.Determine the symbols to be utilized for representing degree of relationship between the variables and also include a legend for symbol definitions. 9.Enter the symbols into the correct cells depending on their relationships. 10.Analyze.

The advantage of a matrix diagram is that it helps in presenting complex information in easily understandable form. It is important to study and understand the relationships for the decision making process. This will help clarify the relationship between factors involved.

Scatter Plot Diagram

The scatter diagram graphs pairs of numerical data, with one variable on each axis, to look for a relationship between them. If the variables are correlated, the points will fall along a line or curve. The better the correlation, the tighter the points will hug the line.
When to Use a Scatter Diagram

When you have paired numerical data. When your dependent variable may have multiple values for each value of your independent variable.

When trying to determine whether the two variables are related, such as When trying to identify potential root causes of problems. After brainstorming causes and effects using a fishbone diagram, to determine objectively whether a particular cause and effect are related. When determining whether two effects that appears to be related both occur with the same cause. When testing for autocorrelation before constructing a control chart.

Scatter Diagram Procedure 1. Collect pairs of data where a relationship is suspected.

2. Draw a graph with the independent variable on the horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the vertical axis. For each pair of data, put a dot or a symbol where the x-axis value intersects the y-axis value. (If two dots fall together, put them side by side, touching, so that you can see both.) 3. Look at the pattern of points to see if a relationship is obvious. If the data clearly form a line or a curve, you may stop. The variables are correlated. You may wish to use regression or correlation analysis now. Otherwise, complete steps 4 through 7.

4. Divide points on the graph into four quadrants. If there are X points on the graph, 1.Count X/2 points from top to bottom and draw a horizontal line. 2.Count X/2 points from left to right and draw a vertical line. 3.If number of points is odd, draw the line through the middle point.
5. Count the points in each quadrant. Do not count points on a line.

6. Add the diagonally opposite quadrants. Find the smaller sum and the total of points in all quadrants. A = points in upper left + points in lower right B = points in upper right + points in lower left Q = the smaller of A and B N=A+B 7. Look up the limit for N on the trend test table. 1.If Q is less than the limit, the two variables are related. 2.If Q is greater than or equal to the limit, the pattern could have occurred from random chance.

Scatter Diagram Example

Scatter Diagram Considerations: Even if the scatter diagram shows a relationship, do not assume that one variable caused the other. Both may be influenced by a third variable. When the data are plotted, the more the diagram resembles a straight line, the stronger the relationship. If a line is not clear, statistics (N and Q) determine whether there is reasonable certainty that a relationship exists. If the statistics say that no relationship exists, the pattern could have occurred by random chance. If the scatter diagram shows no relationship between the variables, consider whether the data might be stratified.

If the diagram shows no relationship, consider whether the independent (x-axis) variable has been varied widely. Sometimes a relationship is not apparent because the data dont cover a wide enough range. Think creatively about how to use scatter diagrams to discover a root cause. Drawing a scatter diagram is the first step in looking for a relationship between variables.

Lessons Learned:
When we have a serious problem, it's important to explore all of the things that could cause it, before we start to think about a solution. That way we can solve the problem completely, first time round, rather than just addressing part of it and having the problem run on and on. This is where the problem analysis tool comes out. It is of major importance with regard to solving problems within an organization, group or team. After all discussion and clarification of the tools, all problems and decision making will be much easier to deal and convenient to use. It is important to determine whether the different groups of people perceive the problem in the same way in order for them to utilize the appropriate tool in acquiring possible solutions.