5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study

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Affinity Diagram | Explained with   

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What is an Affinity Diagram?

→ An affinity diagram is a very useful Management and Business tool that is used to
organize ideas and data for analysis.

→ The Affinity Diagram is a tool that collects large amounts of data (ideas, opinions, issues)
and organizes them into groupings based on their natural or common relationships.
Search Your Topic Here

→ The ideas are generated by a group of team with the help of brainstorming is also called
as Affinity Process.

→ It is one of the most important tools of New 7 QC Tools or we can say that Seven
Management and Planning Tools.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study
→ However, the term affinity diagram was originated by a Japanese anthropologist Jiro Most Popular
Kawakita in the 1960s.
Problem Solving
→ That's why sometimes, it is referred to as the KJ Method. Methods | Steps, Proces
Examples

→ The tool is commonly used within project management for any kind of project either
7 QC Tools for Process
Problem Solving or any Improvement related.
Improvement | PDF |
Case Study
→ For a better understanding, we can take an example, like bananas, apples, and oranges
would be grouped as fruits, while tomato, potato, cabbage, broccoli, and carrots would be Top Lean Tools | Top 26
grouped as vegetables, likewise. Lean Manufacturing
Tools | Examples

→ The affinity_diagram may be used to create a Cause and Effect Diagram.

7 Steps of Jishu Hozen
(Autonomous
Maintenance) Pillar in
TPM

5S in the Workplace | 5S
organizational resilien Implementation | 5S
Meaning | PDF
Make resilience part of your busine
strategy

BS 65000:2022 | BSI O
Different Names of an Affinity Diagram Tool Categories

1. Affinity_Chart
7 QC Tools
2. Affinity_Mapping
Control Chart
3. K-J Method
4. Thematic Analysis Difference

FMEA

Why should we use the Affinity process? General

IATF 16949
→ The Affinity_Process is a good way to get people to work on a creative level to address
ISO 9001
difficult issues.
Lean Manufacturing

→ It may be used in situations that are unknown or unexplored by a team. Lean Six Sigma

Lean Tool
→ Also, it may be used in a confusing or disorganized situation.
MSA

→ Mainly it is used when people with various experiences form a new team, or when New 7 QC Tools

members have incomplete knowledge of the area of analysis. OEE

PPAP

Problem Solving Method

When to use the Affinity Diagram Tool
Process Mapping
→ We can use this tool when you want to analyze large volumes of unorganized data. Quality

Quality Core Tools

→ For example, a process owner who is identifying customers and their needs might
Six Sigma
compile a very large list of unsorted or and unorganized data.
SPC

→ In this kind of case, creating an Affinity_Diagram might be helpful for organizing the data Terms & Definition
into groups.
TPM

→ It helps us to identify new patterns of thinking.

→ When we are analyzing verbal data, such as survey results.

→ When collecting and organizing large data sets.

→ If we need to develop relationships among the large numbers of ideas or data sets at
that time also we can use this process.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study

organizational resilience
Make resilience part of your business
strategy

BS 65000:2022 | BSI Open

When not to use the Affinity Diagram Tool
→ As a thumb rule, we should not use the Affinity_Process if we have less than 15 items or
information for analysis.

→ For lesser_ideas or items of information, we can combine the_ideas and use one of the
Decision-Making Tools to identify the highest priority items.

How to make an Affinity Diagram?

→ There are below Five Easy Steps for Making the Affinity Diagram.

1. Generate or Create ideas

2. Display the Ideas
3. Sort Ideas into Related Groups
4. Create Header Cards
5. Draw the finished Affinity Diagram

Step_01 - Generate ideas

→ In the very first stage of this activity, we need to generate_ideas by using the
Brainstorming tool.

→ If we not down all ideas then the further process will become easier.

→ We need to not all_ideas during the brainstorming.

Step_02 - Display ideas

→ After generating the_ideas note down in sticky note or in cards and display on a chart,
wall, table, or board in random order.

Step_03 - Sort the Ideas into Related Groups

→ Now in the 3rd step, we need to sort ideas as per the relevant group.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study
→ We can start this activity by looking for two_ideas that seem related in some way.

→ Place_ideas together in a column based on their natural or common relationship.

→ Look for other_ideas that are related to each other and establish new groups.

→ Repeat this process until the team has placed all of the_ideas in groups.

NOTE:

→ Ideally, all of the the_ideas can be sorted into related groups.

→ If there are some_ideas that don’t fit any of the groups then don’t force them into
groupings where they don’t really belong.

→ Let them stand alone under their own headers.

Step_04 - Create Header Cards for the Groups

→ A header is an idea that includes and captures the essential relationships between
the_ideas contained in a group of cards.

→ This idea is written on a single card or post-it.

→ The meaning of the header_card must be very clear that anybody can easily understand
the meaning of the groups.

→ Also, the header can pass a clear meaning to the team and all other people also who are
not in the team.

→ We can change the wording of the header_card during the group discussion and
deciding the header card name. Also, ensure that it should be agreed by all team members.

→ Also if we can find a relationship between two or more groups or headers then we should
rearrange them under a "Super Header." column.

→ We need to apply the same rule for Super Header as we have applied in the regular
header activity.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study
Step_05 - Draw the finished Affinity Diagram

→ The final step is to create the finished_diagram.

→ In this step, we need to write a problem statement at the top of the_diagram.

→ Place header and super header cards above the groups of ideas.

→ We need to review and clarify the final groupings of ideas.

→ Make proper documents for this whole process for further reference.

→ We can see the typical template of an affinity diagram in the below picture.

Example and Case Study of the Affinity Diagram

→ After defining the problem the further step is to brainstorm to obtain around two to three
dozen responses.

→ Each response is clearly written on sticky note paper.

→ The next step is to move the notes around until they fall into five to 10 natural groups.

→ If a note can fall under two different category at that time we can make one duplicate
note and place into both categories.

→ The next step is to find a name for each group or we can say the header of the group.

→ The last step is to draw lines containing all the notes in a group with the group name.

→ The step-wise example of an affinity_diagram is shown in the below figure.

➨ Problem: What are some of the ways to reduce cycle time for process A?

Step 1: Generate or Create ideas

→ In the very first stage of this activity, we need to generate_ideas by using the
Brainstorming process.

→ After finishing the brainstorming we have generated the below ideas for the Problem:
What are some of the ways to reduce cycle time for process A?

→ Increase M/C Speed, Reduce Spare Consumption, Simplify M/C Operation, Add Conveyor,
Develop Backup Vendor, Add New Control, Reduce setup time, Deploy More People, Improve
Vendor Delivery Time, Change Grade of Lubricant, Provide Training, Support During Setup,
Vehicle Loading Time Decrease, Improve Communication with Vendor, Vehicle Loading
Time Decrease, Improve Communication with Vendor, Reduce paperwork, Add Overhead
Crane, Improve Vendor Quality, Improve MTTR, and MTBF.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study

Step 2 - Display ideas

→ After generating the_ideas note down in sticky note or in cards and display on a chart,
wall, table, or board in random order.

→ For your better understanding refer to the below picture.

Step 3 - Sort the Ideas into Related Groups

→ Now in the 3rd step, we need to sort_ideas as per the relevant group.

→ We can start this activity by looking for two_ideas that seem related in some way.

→ Place them together in a column.

→ For better understanding refer to the below picture.

Group_01:
→ Increase M/C Speed
→ Add New Control
→ Reduce setup time
→ Simplify M/C Operation

Group_02:
→ Deploy More People
→ Provide Training
→ Support During Setup

Group_03:
→ Reduce paperwork
→ Add Conveyor
→ Add Overhead Crane
→ Vehicle Loading Time Decrease
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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study

Group_04:
→ Improve Communication with Vendor
→ Develop Backup Vendor
→ Improve Vendor Quality
→ Improve Vendor Delivery Time

Group_05:
→ Change Grade of Lubricant
→ Improve MTTR and MTBF
→ Reduce Spare Consumption

Step 4 - Create Header Cards for the Groups

→ A header is an idea that includes and captures the essential relationships between
the_ideas contained in a group of cards.

→ We can see the header for the relevant activity in the below picture.

→ Now Based on the group discussion we can create the below headers for the above-
mentioned groups.

➨ Group_01 = Machine
➨ Group_02 = Personnel
➨ Group_03 = Infrastructure
➨ Group_04 = Vendor
➨ Group_05 = Maintenance

Step 5 - Draw the finished Affinity Diagram

→ In the finished diagram we need to write the problem statement at the top of the
diagram then Super Header is available, Header, and activities as per group.

→ Refer to the below picture for the complete diagram.

Benefits of the Affinity Diagram Tool and Process

→ The affinity diagram process is simple and cost-effective.

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5/17/23, 10:57 PM Affinity Diagram | Explained with Example and Case Study
→ The thinking ability of members will increase.

→ Innovative ideas will come during brainstorming.

→ This is a transparent and systematic tool.

→ This is a very simple and effective tool that everyone can use easily.
👉 Also Read:
1. Affinity Diagram
2. Interrelationship Diagram
3. Tree Diagram
4. Matrix Diagram
5. Matrix Data Analysis Diagram
6. Arrow Diagram
7. Critical Path Method with Example
8. New 7 QC Tools | Seven Management and Planning Tools | PDF

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2 Comments

rk November 1, 2020 at 8:32 PM

Nice and informative

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Nikunj Bhoraniya  November 1, 2020 at 9:46 PM

Thanks for your kind words

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