A candy manufacturer has observed the frequency of various types of problems that occur in the production of small chocolates with a hard candy coating. The basic data set is shown in Table 18.5.1.

a. Arrange the problems in order from most to least frequent, and create a table showing number of cases, percent of total problem cases, and cumulative percent.

b. Draw a Pareto diagram for this situation.

c. What is the most important problem, in terms of the number of candies affected? What percent of all difficulties does this problem represent?

d. What is the next most important problem? What percent does it represent?

e. What percent of defective candies do the top two problems, taken together, represent?

f. Write a paragraph, as if to your supervisor, summarizing the situation and recommending action.