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Multiple Categories

When you have multiple category columns, Quantum XL creates a separate Pareto chart for each column, allowing you to analyze different dimensions of your data.

Goal

Create Pareto charts for both defect type and production line, showing which categories are most common in each dimension.

Sample Data

Press Copy for Excel, then paste the table into a blank worksheet.

Defect Type Line
Scratch A
Dent B
Scratch A
Crack A
Scratch B
Dent A
Scratch B
Chip A
Dent B
Scratch A

Each row represents one defect observation with two attributes: the defect type and the production line where it occurred.

Steps

  1. Put the data in Excel

    Press Copy for Excel above the table, click cell A1 in a blank worksheet, and press Ctrl+V. The header row lands in row 1 and the 10 data rows in rows 2 through 11.

  2. Launch the analysis

    From the Excel ribbon, select QXL Stat Tools → Analysis Tools → Pareto.

  3. Select your data

    Select cells A1:B11 (the header row plus all 10 data rows).

  4. Configure the analysis

    In the Pareto Analysis dialog:

    • Data Columns: Leave "Defect Type" and "Line" checked

    Click Finish to generate the charts.

Result

Quantum XL creates two Pareto charts:

Defect Type chart: Shows Scratch as the most common defect (5 occurrences), followed by Dent (3):

Line chart: Shows the distribution of defects across production lines A and B:

This lets you answer two questions at once: "Which defects occur most often?" and "Which lines have the most defects?"