Hierarchy Plus

Input-Process-
Output Charts
(HIPO)
• Developed by IBM as a tool and
documentation technique which
attempts to:
– Provide a structure by which the
function of a system can be understood.
– State the functions to be accomplished.
– Provide a visual description of the input,
process and output for each function.
 Purpose:
• to define procedures and operations in a
hierarchical manner, correlating input,
processing, and output steps with the
integrated whole expressed in the
hierarchy diagram.
• A HIPO package consists of a hierarchy chart and IPO
overview diagram and IPO detail diagram:
 Hierarchy Chart
 acts as a hierarchical chart for the function performed
by the system.
 IPO overview diagram
– shows a general sequence of inputs, major processing
functions, and outputs.
 IPO Detailed Diagram
– shows a detailed sequence of inputs, shows a detailed
sequence of inputs, major processing functions, and
outputs.
HIPO Diagram
IPO overview diagram
IPO Detailed Diagram
 Ishikawa Diagram
• also known as Fishbone Diagram, Cause and
Effect Diagram or Root Cause Analysis.
• is a tool used for systematically identifying and
presenting all the possible causes of a particular
problem in graphical format. The possible causes
are presented at various levels of detail in
connected branches, with the level of detail
increasing as the branch goes outward, i.e., an
outer branch is a cause of the inner branch it is
attached to. Thus, the outermost branches
usually indicate the root causes of the problem.
• The Ishikawa Diagram resembles a
fishbone (hence the alternative name
"Fishbone Diagram") - it has a box (the
'fish head') that contains the statement of
the problem at one end of the diagram.
From this box originates the main branch
(the 'fish spine') of the diagram. Sticking
out of this main branch are major
branches that categorize the causes
according to their nature.
• How to Construct:
1.Place the main problem under
investigation in a box on the right.
2.Have the team generate and clarify all the
potential sources of variation.
3.Use an affinity diagram to sort the process
variables into naturally related groups. The
labels of these groups are the names for
the major bones on the Ishikawa diagram.
4.Place the process variables on the
appropriate bones of the Ishikawa diagram.
5.Combine each bone in turn, insuring that
the process variables are specific,
measurable, and controllable.
Other Example: