Pareto chart

A Pareto sorts counts or cost from largest to smallest and draws the cumulative percent. The 80% line is a reference, not a law. The example crosses 80% at the third defect category.

Use counts and cost as separate charts if the ranking changes. A Pareto does not show a cause. It shows where the observed total sits.

Paste a category and an amount. The bars sort themselves. The cumulative line tells you how many categories you need to cover most of the total. If two categories are close, do not treat the order as a decision.

Name the unit of the amount, count or cost, on the chart so a later reader does not mix the two. Copy the sorted table if the ranking has to travel with the project record.