Spaghetti Diagram

ED PIP: Diagnostic Phase
Tools: Spaghetti Diagram

Spaghetti Diagram Overview
Outcome See waste of motion and conveyance and generate solutions to
eliminate it
Definition:
What is it?
A visual presentation of the path a person, object or piece of
information takes during a specific process
Objectives:
What is it
used for?
Document the current movement of people and work
Identify opportunities for improvement
Benefits: Clearly illustrate the inefficiencies in a process related to physical
movement:
Movement of people walking around
Movement of materials through an area
Movement of hands performing a series of operations
Movement of documents through an office
When to use Anytime you see:
Excess walking or transport time, complex processes
Before and after evaluation of the existence of waste
Spaghetti Diagram
Tip for integrating Lean
principles into healthcare:
Part of successfully
implementing Lean in
healthcare is adopting
common language that may
have originated in
manufacturing and
internalizing how it is used
in a healthcare environment
Spaghetti Diagram is
appropriately named as a
complex process that maps
movement looks like a plate
of spaghetti. This is a visual
representation by drawing a
line from one place to the
next. It records all the back
and forth and extra steps.
Its a great tool to see what
areas a process touches
(and how much it touches it)
1
Before you map out a spaghetti diagram, its important to have
done the due diligence in advance and be prepared to lead this
exercise
Prepare
Analyse Map & Measure
3
Prepare
2 1
If studying more than one individual or material moving through a process, you may wish to use different colours to
represent parallel flows
A pedometer may be used to measure the number of steps taken
Identify the process to be studied
Ensure process boundaries and/or work area is clearly defined
Determine which staff members or materials, and how many, to observe and map as they go through the
process
Arrange and confirm staff, date, time
Ensure staff being studied understand why, how and when they will be studied and invite questions
Visit and study the area where process is executed; understand process.
Prepare materials:
White board, paper or blackboard large enough to document motion
Appropriate writing utensils
Spaghetti Diagram
2
Through preparation activities, you should have a clear sense
of what it is you are measuring and should map out as
accurately as possible
Prepare
3
Prepare
2 1
Circle diagrams are similar to spaghetti diagrams and are used to map handoffs of information. The technique
is similar but instead of drawing a floor plan, a simple circle is drawn to represent the process.
Any time a piece of information is conveyed or exchanged, draw a line across the circle and identify from/to
whom the flow occurred.
Different colours can be used to denote different people, professions or parallel processes.
To determine the number of handoffs, count the number of times a line hits the circle / 2
Draw the floor plan or diagram of the area being studied include equipment, work areas, doors/ windows
and other relevant objects as they are currently and/or commonly placed
Draw the floor plan to scale, where able
Explain the need for participants to perform task as it is currently and commonly done rather than what
should be done as per policy or vision of an improved state resist the temptation to ask questions (why
are you doing it that way?) which may lead the participants to perform the task differently
Observe the work being done
Every time the target moves, mark the paths taken directly on the floor plan as the work is being done
Spaghetti Diagram
3
The team should be engaged where possible to align on
potential strategies to improve unnecessary movement
Prepare
3
Prepare
2 1
Resist the temptation to redesign workstations, flows or policies without team input; ensure team includes those
working in the area as well as immediate supervisors or managers.
Highlight excess or redundant distances, information flow and movements
Count the number of times the person, material or equipment changes position or is moved
Measure the number of steps and/or distance travelled for each leg of the process
Measure the number of times the person, material or equipment is transferred to another
individual or place
Look for patterns, for example, repeated steps, key areas or workspaces, other types of waste
Present the information on a chart and share with staff
If possible, post the spaghetti diagram (actual or photo) as well as a tool to solicit potential solutions
Assemble team to test potential solutions
Follow up spaghetti diagram of streamlined workflows
Spaghetti Diagram
4
Spaghetti Diagram - Example
Spaghetti Diagrams Operating Room Redesign
Before After
Source: John Toussaint. ThedaCare. Appleton Wisconsin. USA
ILLUSTRATIVE
Spaghetti Diagram
5
Circle Diagram (information flow) - Example
Source: North York General Hospital. North York, ON.
Information flow for placement to long term care
Spaghetti Diagram
6

Spaghetti Diagram

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Spaghetti Diagram

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Spaghetti Diagram

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ED PIP: Diagnostic Phase

Tools: Spaghetti Diagram

You might also like