Spider Charts:

A Training Course

Spider Charts Training Agenda

What Are Spider Charts?

How Can Your Organization Use Them?
Developing Spider Charts
Spider Charting Exercise
Summary
References

What Are Spider Charts?

A graphical way to compare data
Displayed in a web-like form
Used to evaluate multiple alternatives
based on multiple criteria

How Can Your Organization Use Spider Charts?

Do you want to graphically compare multiple
potential projects?
Do you need to analyze the strengths and
weaknesses of different supply chain strategies?
Are you finding it difficult to make logical
comparisons between business opportunities?
If your answer is yes, then Spider Charts may be your solution!

Developing Spider Charts (Six Easy Steps)

1.
2.
3.
4.

Identify the alternatives to be compared

Generate criteria to rate each alternative
Rate each alternative based on criteria
Draw and label the axis arms of the chart (one
arm for each criterion)
5. Draw and label each alternatives ratings on the
chart, connecting between arms
6. Analyze the chart

Developing Spider Charts

What a Finished Spider Chart Might Look Like:

Developing Spider Charts

Step 1 Identify the alternatives to be compared

Spider Charts could be used to compare:

Potential Projects
Performance of Vendors
Employee Performance

No more than 5 (five) alternatives should be

compared using Spider Charts

Developing Spider Charts

Step 2 Generate criteria to rate each alternative

Projects can be rated based on risk, return, initial

cost, or any other criteria

At least three criteria must be used, more may be

helpful, but more than seven may be too complex

Developing Spider Charts

Step 3 Rate each alternative based on criteria

It is helpful to standardize ratings to some uniform

scale (for example 0-10, or 0-100%)

Developing Spider Charts

Step 4 Draw and label the axis arms of the chart
(one arm for each criterion)

If there are five criteria (C) on a scale of 0-10:

C-1

10

C-2

C-5

C-4

C-3

Developing Spider Charts

Step 5 Draw and label each alternatives ratings
on the chart, connecting between arms

Using different colors for each alternative is best

C-1

10

C-2

C-5

Alternative 1

Alternative 2

C-4

C-3

Developing Spider Charts

Step 6 Analyze the chart

For this example, possible analyses might include:

Alternative 1 is better in
criterion 1, 2 and 5

C-1

10

C-2

C-5

Alternative 2 is better in
criterion 3 and 4

Alternative 1
Alternative 2

The largest difference is

found in criterion 4

C-4

C-3

Spider Charting Exercise

Now, lets go through an exercise to create a
Spider Chart
Suppose you want to compare how well three
different vendors have delivered goods on time
over the past five years.
You have the following data:

Spider Charting Exercise (continued)

Data
On-time Delivery Percentages
Vendors:
Year:

AppleGate

Patriot, Inc.

Franklin

45%

67%

83%

57

64

65

68

70

77

63

66

91

75

71

55

Spider Charting Exercise (continued)

Refer to the data on the previous slide and use
the Six Steps to create a Spider Chart comparing
the three vendors
Hint: The criteria used in this example are
actually the five years

Spider Charting Exercise (continued)

As a reminder, here are the Six Steps:

Identify the alternatives to be compared

Generate criteria to rate each alternative
Rate each alternative based on criteria
Draw and label the axis arms of the chart (one arm for
each criterion)
Draw and label each alternatives ratings on the chart,
connecting between arms
Analyze the chart

Spider Charting Exercise (continued)

More hints for the example problem:
1. The alternatives are the three vendors
2. The criteria are the five years
3. The ratings are given as the percentages
4. Your chart should have five arms (for the five
years)
5. You should have drawn three webs, one for
each vendor
6. What does the chart tell you about the vendors?

Spider Charting Exercise Solution

Here is what your Spider Chart should look like:

Spider Charting Exercise Solution

This Spider Chart was developed using Microsoft Excel, which is a quick and flexible way to make the chart
To make it in MS Excel, input the data in the cells, then Insert a Chart and select Radar as the Chart Type

Summary
Spider Charts are very useful for visually
comparing a few alternatives
Just follow the Six Easy Steps to create your
own Spider Chart
Microsoft Excel provides a quick and easy way
to create a Spider Chart

References (Where to Find More Information)

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/excel_radar.htm

The Spider Chart: A Unique Tool for Performance Appraisal, 1995, ASQC,
Rogers, Cephas B.
Go to www.asq.org (the American Society for Quality website) and
search for spider chart

http://www.asq.org/education/docs/radarchart.pdf

Beyond Strategic Vision: Effective Corporate Action with Hoshin Planning,

Michael Cowley, 199, page 76.

The Ultimate Six Sigma: Beyond Quality Excellence, Keki R Bhote, 2001,
page 180.