Visualization

Challenge

The product has an issue with one of its key physical performance indexes. Customer is definitely not  happy about its poor performance and is demanding to resolve the issue promptly. The product is a very  complex equipment and is composed of many components governing many physical processes which  are inter-related. After brainstorming, many possible cause and effect relationships between such inter- related processes are discussed, but are not easily understood without proper visualization.

Selection

Visualization tool selected for this challenge is fishbone diagram. Fishbone diagram is a visualization  tool used in analyze phase of 6 Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). It is suitable  to represent cause and effect relationships clearly by drawing fishbone-like structure describing the  cause and effect relationship of each component. Major cause is represented by big bone (arrow), while  minor cause is represented by small bone (arrow).

Application

A group of engineers get together to first brainstorm all the possible cause and effect relationships of  component/processes. The possible cause and effect relationships are more than 20 and some of them  are inter-related. Post-it is used to describe each cause, effect, component, process, and is attached  onto a big white paper on the wall. Arrows are drawn on the white paper in between post-it. By doing  this, the complex inter-relationship can be clearly visualized and understood.

Insight

Usually simple issue is well described by single or couple of cause and effect relationships, which can  be easily visualized inside one’s brain. But, when it comes to more than 20 cause and effect  relationships, it is very difficult to have clear picture without the help of a visualization tool. Fishbone  diagram is an effective visualization tool for such situation.

Approach

Fishbone diagram is a good visualization tool to represent complex cause and effect inter- relationships. However, it becomes too complex diagram when all the cause and effects are represented  in a single diagram. Next time, probably it is better to categorize the cause and effects into several  groups and to use separate fishbone diagram for each group.


Visualization Challenge The product has an issue with one of its key physical performance indexes . Customer is definitely not happy about its poor performance and is demanding to resolve the issue promptly . The product is a very complex equipment and is composed of many components governing many physical processes which are inter - related . After brainstorming , many possible cause and effect relationships between such inter- related processes are discussed , but are not easily understood without proper visualization . Selection Visualization tool selected for this challenge is fishbone diagram . Fishbone diagram is a visualization tool used in analyze phase of 6 Sigma DMAIC ( Define , Measure , Analyze , Improve , Control ) . It is suitable to represent cause and effect relationships clearly by drawing fishbone - like structure describing the cause and effect relationship of each component . Major cause is represented by big bone ( arrow ) , while minor cause is represented by small bone ( arrow ) . Application A group of engineers get together to first brainstorm all the possible cause and effect relationships of component / processes . The possible cause and effect relationships are more than 20 and some of them are inter - related . Post - it is used to describe each cause , effect , component , process , and is attached onto a big white paper on the wall . Arrows are drawn on the white paper in between post - it . By doing this , the complex inter - relationship can be clearly visualized and understood . Insight Usually simple issue is well described by single or couple of cause and effect relationships , which can be easily visualized inside one ’s brain . But , when it comes to more than 20 cause and effect relationships , it is very difficult to have clear picture without the help of a visualization tool . Fishbone diagram is an effective visualization tool for such situation . Approach Fishbone diagram is a good visualization tool to represent complex cause and effect inter- relationships . However , it becomes too complex diagram when all the cause and effects are represented in a single diagram . Next time , probably it is better to categorize the cause and effects into several groups and to use separate fishbone diagram for each group .