Page 320 - Six Sigma Demystified

300 Six SigMa DemystifieD

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• To ensure that process solutions are aligned with customer needs

A matrix diagram establishes pairings between two sets of items or helps to
rate an item according to its relationship to another item (or items). For
instance, you might choose to make a matrix showing the relationship between
all the departments in your organization and the various jobs that need to be
completed. You can use the matrix to assign primary responsibility, secondary
responsibility, and other levels of interest for each task. Examples of use include

• Project deliverables versus business objectives
• Customer requirements versus internal process objectives
• The foundation of quality function deployment

• Suggested projects versus project rating criteria
• Black belt candidates versus candidate rating criteria

Methodology

First, you will need to determine what groups of items you would like to compare
within your matrix. (You might want to use information collected in another
tool. For instance, you could use the group headings from an affinity diagram of
process issues as one group of items and the project objectives as another.)
Each item in the group will be compared, one at a time, with each item in
the other group. Using consensus decision rules, determine whether there is a
relationship between the two items and, if so, whether the relationship is a
strong or weak one. Then mark the intersection of the two items. There are

several standard systems used to denote relationships.
Plus and Minus System
A plus indicates that a relationship exists. A minus indicates that no relation-
ship exists.

Symbol System
A triangle indicates that a weak relationship exists. A circle shows that some re-
lationship exists. A circle within a circle shows that a strong relationship exists.

Directional System
Use arrows to show that one item has an effect on another. The process of de-
ciding which arrow to use often can lead to helpful realizations. You might have