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Spaghetti Diagrams

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Spaghetti Diagrams

What is a spaghetti diagram?

A hand drawn or computer drawn diagram showing the movements in a process. The movements could be information, material or people.

A diagram or a map that will highlight potential time saving that could be made in reorganising an area or equipment.
How You Might Use This Tool/ Method
Materials required:
  • a simple plan of the relevant area – you can draw this out roughly on a PC or by hand
  • coloured pens so that different movements can be tracked individually
  • a board or wall near the relevant area where you can display your plan

The process:
  • On your area plan, plot the movements of each staff member as they carry out a process, e.g. gathering equipment from a store room
  • Use different colour pens for different processes and journeys
  • Time how long processes currently take
  • Interview staff in order to understand what they are doing and why they need to make each movement or “journey” across the space

Next:
  • With your team, discuss how the area could be arranged and / or the processes redesigned so that movement is reduced and time is saved
  • Plot the newly designed process route onto a plan in a different colour.
  • Quantify the time that could be saved by walking the new route and timing it
  • Translate the time savings into a positive message for the wider team.
Examples
Before
Spaghetti-Diagram-Before
After
Spaghetti-Diagram-After
Example of hand-drawn spaghetti diagram drawn on a PC – reception team showing process for finding prescriptions
Spaghetti-Diagram-Example
The red lines represent the journeys made by receptionists to find prescriptions before the space is rationalised. The black lines show fewer journeys once the improvements have been made and the prescriptions have been clearly labelled and placed.

If you would like to find out more please contact us:

Contact Us
Spaghetti-Diagram-Example
Screenshot-from-2023-10-16-13-32-39

Contact

0191 535 4339[email protected]

Pemberton House, Colima Avenue Sunderland Enterprise Park Sunderland, SR5 3XB

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