Pareto principle of maldistribution is based on the fact that in the manufacture or repair of hardware there are almost always a few kinds of defects that loom large both in severity and frequency of occurrence. In either case, these defects are significant because they are costly. The principle states that a relatively few items will account for a disproportionately large amount of total effect. It has been described as a method for distinguishing the significant few from the trivial many.
The paper presents a case study where pareto analysis is applied to the defects that are encountered in the machining and assembly processes in an automotive engines major repair workshop. The kinds and distribution of defects are recorded. The vital defects that should take a great deal of consideration if the quality is to be improved, are found out. This enables stressing on quality weaknesses and sheds light on vital problems and rationalizes decisions for solving quality problems.