Supply Chain Management
Spider Charts
also known as Radar Charts
By Collin Ferre
BusM 361
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Spider Charts
• What is a Spider\Radar Chart?
Caffine
80
• How is it used?
60
40
Protein
Sodium
20
• Exercises
• Additional Resources
0
Sugar
Calories
Total Carbs
Soda A
Soda D
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Spider Charts
Soda B
Soda E
Not actual data
Soda C
Collin Ferre
Background
Spider charts are most useful when trying to
compare different set of data that all relate
to a certain point.
They are very useful in visual comparisons of
data to help choose the optimal solution or
identify areas of improvement.
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
How to use it
• Create categories
• Standardize performance definitions
• Rate each performance category
• Construct the chart
• Plot the ratings.
• Interpret and use the results.
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
• Suppose that you are looking to buy a
computer
• Your top three criteria for the computer are
hard drive capacity, processor speed,
amount of RAM (memory), and CD\DVD
drive.
• Use a spider chart to help you choose the
best option for your computer
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
• You have chosen
three systems
Brand A
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Brand B
Brand C
Hard
60 GB
Drive
Processor 3.6 MHz
Speed
RAM
512 MB
80 GB
40 GB
2.6 MHz
3.2 MHz
1024 MB
512 MB
CD/DVD
DVD
CD
Spider Charts
DVD
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
• In this example we will create a 1-10
scale to rate each aspect of the
computer
• We will assume that the on the scale
that
–
–
–
–
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Spider Charts
80 GB hard drive is a 10 – a 20 GB is a 1
3.6 MHz processor is a 10 – a 1.6 MHz is a 1
1024 MB Ram is a 10 – a 128 MB is 1
DVD is a 10 - no CD/DVD is a 0
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
• Input the data from
the table into an excel
spreadsheet
• Now we can use the
Chart wizard to create
a spider chart.
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
Step 1: Select Insert from the
menu bar and then choose
Chart
Step 2: A window like this will
appear chose radar and click
next
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
Step 3: Enter the data range by
selecting the fields with the ratings
of the different components
Step 4: Click next and add a name to
the chart.
At this point you can also change font
colors or the position attributes of the
legend.
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Using Excel – Example One
Step 5: After you have changed the
colors and other attributes that you
would like Click Finish
Computer Choices
Hard drive
10
You should have a chart that looks
similar to the one on the right.
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CD/DVD
Now you have a graphical
representation of the choice that
you are making. This graph can
help you see which option best
meets your needs.
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Spider Charts
0
Processor speed
RAM
Brand A
Brand B
Brand C
Collin Ferre
Example Two -
• Take a look at a more complex
situation and this time you are on your
own to create the spider chart.
• In this example it will not be necessary
to rate the different components,
simply use the data given in the
problem
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Example Two
Fred is looking for a new
place to open a tourist shop.
One of the main criteria for
the shop is the average
temperature during the year.
He would like to compare the
temperature in 3 cities
Create a Spider Chart to help
Fred with his decision.
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Spider Charts
Month
Average temp in
Honolulu
Average temp in
London
Average temp in
Anchorage
January
64
19
-10
February
68
30
5
March
70
56
20
April
72
67
35
May
74
72
45
June
78
76
55
July
80
87
60
August
86
84
65
September
79
79
63
October
75
68
57
November
70
55
35
December
68
28
25
Collin Ferre
Answer to Example Two
One Possible answer
to example 2.
Average temperature comparison
December
If Fred is looking for
the best temperature
year round which city
would he choose?
November
October
January
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
February
March
April
September
May
August
June
July
Average temp in Honolulu
Average temp in London
Average temp in Anchorage
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Applying the Principle
• Think of your areas of responsibility
• How could you use a Spider Chart in your
work to help you make a better decision?
• How could a Spider Chart help you optimize
performance?
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Spider Charts
Collin Ferre
Additional Resources…
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•
http://www.crummer.rollins.edu/journal/articles/2003_2_radar.pdf
•
http://www.mori.com/pubinfo/aiz/statistical-analyses.pdf
•
http://www.skymark.com/resources/tools/radar_charts.asp
•
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/excel_radar.htm
•
http://web2.concordia.ca/Quality/tools/23radar.pdf
•
http://www.isixsigma.com/dictionary/Radar_Chart-307.htm
•
http://www.infinitefutures.com/essays/prez/mapping/
•
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010346071033.aspx
•
http://www.ve.com/kavachart/alacarte/applets/specialty/SpiderCharts.html
Spider Charts
Collin Ferre