This exercise is intended to help you have a better appreciation of how to use a
Pareto chart to determine what issues or problems to prioritize.
• A hospital seeks to address the problem of delays in surgery. The table below shows
the causes of the delays in surgery and the frequency of occurrence. Use this
information to construct a Pareto chart to identify which problems should be
prioritized by the hospital.
Table: Causes of delays in surgery
Causes Frequency
Patient arrived late 33
Problem with set-up 8
Incomplete paperwork 10
Missing equipment 38
Surgeon not available 28
Poor internal communication 11
Poor scheduling 17
Operating room not available 14
Patient illness 5
StaO/nurse not available 6
How to Create A Pareto Chart Like A Pro in Excel | Pareto Principle Example:
How to create a Pareto Chart in Excel – 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle: