Matrix DiagramsWhat are Matrix Diagrams?

A matrix diagram, also called a matrix chart, is a management and planning tool used for identifying relationships between two to four groups of elements or among elements in a single group. The elements in different groups are placed in rows and columns and relationships among them are analyzed by the team.

Symbols indicating the strength of the relationships are then entered in the cell where the row and column of the two elements intersect. If there is no relationship, then it is left blank. Because matrix diagrams help you analyze data, they are also extensively used in the Measure and Analyze phases of the DMAIC methodology.

• Relationships among different sets of items by comparing them, especially many-to-many relationships among them instead of one-to-one relationships.
• The strength of the relationship between different sets of items qualitatively.
• And, the success of a process that generates one set of items from another set of items.

Matrix diagrams can be sorted into several types depending on the number of data sets being compared.

• L-shaped Relates two sets of elements to one another or a single set of elements to itself.
• T-shaped Relates three sets of elements where there is no relation between the two sets that are related to a common set.
• Y-shaped Relates three sets of elements where one set is related to the other two sets in a circular manner.
• C-shaped relates three sets of elements simultaneously.
• X-shaped relates four sets of elements.
• Roof-shaped relates one set of elements to itself.