5 Minute Lesson: Continuous Improvement Methods Affinity Diagrams & Interrelationship Diagraphs...

5 Minute Lesson: Continuous Improvement

Methods

Affinity Diagrams &

Interrelationship Diagraphs

Dr. Jamison V. KovachAssistant Professor, College of Technology & Director, UH-Six Sigma Program

Phone: 713-743-1704 Email: jvkovach@uh.edu Website: www.uhsixsigma.com

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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

• Helps to converge on a number of themes that can be addressed later to deal with the problem

Created by Jiro Kawakita -Also known as:

KJ method

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Constructing an Affinity Diagram

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Constructing an Affinity Diagram

Brainstorming

Grouping

Establishing Themes

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Constructing an Affinity Diagram

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Example of an Affinity Diagram

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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

• Identify areas of greatest impact– Root cause(s)– Key drivers and outcomes

Also known as:Relations diagram

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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.

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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

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Urban Poverty Example

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Resort Management Example

A. Best Employee Benefits

E. Service and Product

Consistency

D. State of the Art Training and

Certification Program

B. World Class Golf/Tennis/Spa

C. Perfect Guest Room

G. Perfect Dining

Experience

F. Appropriate Tools and

Technology Everywhere

H. Highest Perceived

Price/Value

Key Driver

Key Outcome

5 Minute Lesson: Continuous Improvement

Methods

Dr. Jamison V. KovachAssistant Professor, College of Technology

Director, UH-Six Sigma ProgramPhone: 713-743-1704 Email: jvkovach@uh.edu

www.tmacgc.orgwww.uhsixsigma.com