Quality

Fishbone DiagramIshikawa / Cause-and-Effect Diagram

A cause-and-effect diagram that organizes potential causes of a problem into categories shaped like a fish skeleton.

The fishbone diagram (Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram) maps the possible causes of a problem along "bones" branching from a central spine. Causes are grouped into categories — commonly the 6Ms: Man, Machine, Method, Material, Measurement, and Environment (Mother Nature).

It is a brainstorming structure that ensures a team considers all cause categories rather than fixating on the obvious. It pairs naturally with the 5 Whys to drill each promising branch to root cause.

Go Deeper
Root Cause Analysis framework→Fishbone Diagram template→
Related Terms
5 Whys
A root cause technique where you ask "why?" repeatedly until you reach the fundamental cause of a problem.
Root Cause Corrective Action
The disciplined process of finding a problem's fundamental cause and implementing a permanent fix.
8D
A structured eight-step problem-solving and corrective-action method, widely used in automotive supplier quality.
Pareto Analysis
A technique that focuses effort on the "vital few" causes that account for the majority of a problem.

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