Quality

Pareto Analysis80/20 Rule

A technique that focuses effort on the "vital few" causes that account for the majority of a problem.

Pareto analysis applies the 80/20 rule: typically about 20% of causes generate about 80% of the effects. A Pareto chart ranks categories by frequency or cost so the team attacks the tallest bars first.

It is a foundational prioritization tool in quality and continuous improvement, ensuring scarce resources target the few problems that matter most. The same logic drives ABC inventory analysis.

Go Deeper
Pareto Analysis guide→Root Cause Analysis framework→
Related Terms
Fishbone Diagram
A cause-and-effect diagram that organizes potential causes of a problem into categories shaped like a fish skeleton.
Root Cause Corrective Action
The disciplined process of finding a problem's fundamental cause and implementing a permanent fix.
ABC Analysis
An inventory categorization that ranks items into A, B, and C classes by value so control effort is focused where it matters.
Cost of Quality
The total cost of achieving quality (prevention + appraisal) plus the cost of failing to (internal + external failure).
DMAIC
The five-phase data-driven improvement cycle at the heart of Six Sigma for improving existing processes.

Put Pareto Analysis into practice

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