Understanding Cumulative Flow DiagramTrack work in progress and identify bottlenecks
What is a CFD?
A Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD) is a visual chart showing the cumulative number of work items in different states over time. It helps teams identify bottlenecks, measure flow efficiency, and predict delivery timelines. The x-axis represents time, and the y-axis shows the cumulative count of items in each state.
Why It Matters
CFD matters because it: 1) Reveals bottlenecks - states with growing queues indicate blockers, 2) Shows throughput - the slope of 'Done' reveals delivery speed, 3) Measures WIP - prevents overloading team members, 4) Predicts delivery - patterns help forecast completion dates, 5) Identifies blockers - flat areas in progress indicate impediments.
Throughput
12.0
Avg WIP
28.7
Flow Efficiency
30%
Total Completed
60
WIP Limit Violations
Cumulative Flow Diagram
Throughput Over Time
State Trends
49
Current
+44
Change
25
Current
+23
Change
22
Current
+21
Change
12
Current
+12
Change
60
Current
+58
Change
Workflow States
Add Flow Data
Current Data
| Period | State | Items | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 6 | Done | 18 | |
| Week 6 | In Review | 4 | |
| Week 6 | In Progress | 5 | |
| Week 6 | To Do | 6 | |
| Week 6 | Backlog | 12 | |
| Week 5 | Done | 15 | |
| Week 5 | In Review | 2 | |
| Week 5 | In Progress | 4 | |
| Week 5 | To Do | 5 | |
| Week 5 | Backlog | 8 |
Bottleneck Analysis
To Do
Current: 25 items
In Progress
Current: 22 items
In Review
Current: 12 items
Cumulative Flow Diagram Glossary
Cumulative Flow Diagram
A visual chart showing the cumulative number of work items in different states over time. Helps identify bottlenecks and flow patterns.
Work In Progress (WIP)
The number of items currently being worked on in active states. Too much WIP leads to longer cycle times and reduced throughput.
WIP Limit
A cap on the number of items allowed in a specific state. Helps prevent overloading and exposes bottlenecks quickly.
Throughput
The number of items completed per time period. Measured by the slope of the 'Done' line. Higher, consistent throughput indicates health.
Cycle Time
The total time an item spends from starting to completion. In CFD, estimated by horizontal distance in the diagram.
Flow Efficiency
The percentage of time items spend being actively worked on versus waiting. Formula: Active Time / Total Time. Target >40%.
Bottleneck
A state where work accumulates faster than it can be processed. Appears as a growing queue in the CFD.
Lead Time
Total time from when an item is requested to when it's delivered. Includes waiting time in all states.
Queue
Items waiting to be processed in a particular state. Growing queues indicate capacity issues or blockers.
Blocker
An impediment that prevents work from progressing. Visible as a flat line in an otherwise moving state.
Pull System
A workflow where new work is pulled into a state only when there's capacity. WIP limits enforce pull behavior.
Kanban
A visual workflow management method that uses CFD and WIP limits to improve flow and efficiency.