Identify areas of waste (time, space, etc.) based on the route an individual/item takes within a process.
What is a Spaghetti Diagram?
How do I apply a Spaghetti Diagram?
A Spaghetti Diagram is used to identify areas of waste (time, space, etc.) based on the route an individual/item takes within a process. It is most useful for visualizing a route a person has traveled, while providing a larger overview of process steps to expose inefficient process layouts, unnecessary travel distance between process steps, and overall waste. This is a method that uses a continuous line to trace the path and distance traveled of an object or person throughout a process. It is mostly commonly illustrated on a floor map diagram that contains the entire process the team is evaluating.
- Print out or draw an accurate diagram of the floor plan of the area that contains the process that the team is evaluating.
- Go to the site to accurately identify the object or person the team wants to track and its starting point on the developed map.
- Start drawing a line on the developed diagram and replicate the actual flow of the individual or object on the map and continue the line until the last step of the process. NOTE: Do not draw lines through walls as it does not realistically represent the actual flow of the object/person.
- Utilize the diagram created to identify inefficiencies/waste – such as too many lines converging on one area at the same time, crossing paths, or taking unnecessarily long routes.