Understanding Spaghetti Diagrams
A spaghetti diagram is a visual representation of physical flow and movement within a process, tracking the path of people, materials, or information.
What is a Spaghetti Diagram?
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Purpose
Used to visualize and analyze the physical flow of work in a process, identifying inefficiencies in layout and movement.
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Benefits
- Identifies unnecessary movement
- Highlights layout inefficiencies
- Shows opportunities for process improvement
- Quantifies distance traveled
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How to Create
- Draw the floor layout
- Observe the process
- Draw lines showing movement
- Analyze the patterns
Example: Factory Floor Layout
Analysis
The diagram shows excessive movement between storage and shipping. Consider reorganizing the layout to minimize travel distance.
Before Optimization
Total distance: 240m
After Optimization
Total distance: 120m
Implementation Tips
Step 1: Observe
Follow workers/materials throughout their entire process cycle.
Step 2: Document
Draw lines to represent movement patterns on the layout diagram.
Step 3: Analyze
Look for crossing lines and long distances to identify improvement opportunities.
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