Pareto Analysis Calculator
Rank your causes by impact and find the vital few that drive most of the problem — the classic 80/20 Pareto analysis. Free, instant and fully in your browser.
Vital few
2
causes up to 80% cumulative
Sort desc → share % → cumulative % → vital few ≤ 80%
Highlighted rows are the vital few — the leading causes whose running cumulative share reaches 80%. Focus improvement effort there first.
What is Pareto analysis?
Pareto analysis applies the 80/20 principle: a small number of causes are usually responsible for most of an effect. By sorting causes from largest to smallest and tracking the cumulative share, you separate the "vital few" from the "trivial many" so you can attack the problems that matter most. It is a staple of quality and continuous improvement, used for defects, downtime, complaints and cost drivers alike.
How to do a Pareto analysis
- 1
List the causes
Enter each cause or category and the magnitude that measures its impact — a count, cost, downtime or any consistent unit.
- 2
Rank and accumulate
The tool sorts causes from largest to smallest, computes each one's share of the total, and adds a running cumulative percentage.
- 3
Find the vital few
Read off the causes whose running cumulative share reaches 80%. Those are the vital few — tackle them first for the greatest return.
Frequently asked questions
Why 80%?
The 80/20 rule is a rule of thumb, not a law. The 80% cut-off is a practical convention for separating the vital few from the trivial many; the real split varies by process. The cumulative curve matters more than the exact number.
What can I use Pareto analysis on?
Anything you can count or measure by category: defect types, machine downtime causes, customer complaints, scrap cost, late-delivery reasons. It is one of the seven basic quality tools.
How does Yamazo Studio help?
Yamazo Studio turns shop-floor video into time studies and waste analysis, surfacing the activities and losses that dominate your process — the raw material for a Pareto attack on waste.
Related lean & quality tools
Find the vital few in your work
Pareto ranks the causes; Yamazo Studio shows you where they live in the work itself — turning shop-floor video into waste analysis and standard work. One offline Lean Operating Desk.
Get your free demo