Pareto data

What is it?

If your counts data can be arranged into categories and the rank of each category is important it is considered Pareto data. Pareto analysis is based on the law of the significant few versus the trivial many. For example there are often many causes to a problem but only some of them are significant.

How is it used?

The purpose of a Pareto diagram is to separate the significant aspects of a problem from the trivial ones. By graphically separating the aspects of a problem, a team will know where to direct its improvement efforts. Reducing the largest bars identified in the diagram will do more for overall improvement than reducing the smaller ones. You can use a Pareto diagram to see frequency of occurrence or to compare cost and occurrence. Software packages such as SQCpack can generate Pareto diagrams from your data.

Use a Pareto diagram to analyze this type of data.