What are the Vital Few Factors

The "Vital Few Factors" are factors that directly explain the cause-and-effect relationship of the process output being measured in relation to the inputs that drive the process. Typically, data shows that there are six or fewer factors for any process that most affect the quality of outputs in any process, even if there are hundreds of steps in which a defect could occur--the "vital few". When you isolate these factors, you know what basic adjustments you need to make to most effectively and reliably improve the outputs of the process.