Pareto Analysis

Step 1: Frequency Analysis

The first step of the Pareto Analysis is to gather data on the frequency of the causes. Looking over all the data they gathered when they were describing the problem, and the list of causes they created in the Cause-and-Effect Diagram, the team decides that they need to gather some more data on the frequency of the different possible causes. They interview a sample of 50 users and 20 staff members of the health center to determine which of the possible causes happen most frequently in the Santa Rosa Health Center.

Here are the results of the survey, in a table:

Possible Causes of Long Wait Time	Percent of Total
Policies require excess information on users	1
Policies require complicated procedures	1
Too much paperwork	2
Not enough funding	2
Inadequate schedules	13
Inadequate policies	2
Clinic personnel have too many chores at home	2
Clinic personnel have other jobs	2
Clinic personnel lack punctuality	6
Clinic personnel have insufficient training	2
Clinic personnel aren't motivated	1
Clinic personnel are careless	1
Clinic personnel don't follow the schedule	16
Users forget ID cards	1
Users don't keep appointments	2
Users are uncooperative	1
Delay in handing over lab results to doctors	14
Outdated methods	12
Lack of automation	9
Procedures take too long	11

The next step of the Pareto Analysis is to identify the "vital few" causes of the problem.