What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps find the root cause of a quality problem?

What is a Fishbone Diagram?

The Fishbone diagram or Ishikawa diagram is a modern quality management tool that explains the cause and effect relationship for any quality issue that has arisen or that may arise. It provides the visual representation of all the possible causes of a problem to analyze and find out the root cause. It is a tool that can be used both proactively and reactively.

Now, why is it called a Fishbone diagram? It is not without any reason. The name comes from the shape this tool takes after its formation. Its structure resembles the bone structure of fishes. The problem is written in the rightmost part, the fish’s head. On the left runs its spine, which has bone-like arrows pointing to the main causes. Under those main causes are determined the sub-causes.

Reference Fishbone or Ishikawa Diagram and its components:

What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps find the root cause of a quality problem?

You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc, Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be Hyperlinked
For eg:
Source: Fishbone Diagram (wallstreetmojo.com)

This diagram is drawn on an excel sheet; alternatively, this can be made on word or paint. Many online websites and templates provide you with ready-to-use diagrams. As seen in the diagram, the problem/issue is mentioned on the right. The main causes are mentioned on the tip of bones stretching from the spine bone. Under these main causes are mentioned the causes and sub-causes.

How to Create a Fishbone diagram?

Follow the steps to create a fishbone diagram.

  1. Make the head of the fish on the right. Here we mention the subject that needs our attention.
  2. Draw a backbone on the left.
  3. Draw branches to the backbones that will list the main causes. List four to eight main causes.
  4. Under these main causes are listed the causes and sub-causes. These can be identified by organizing a brainstorming session or minutely following the whole process and identifying all the possible reasons that can lead to quality damage.

Identification of Factors Causing a Defect

For the identification of factors, we may consider breaking all the reasons under the following main causes:

  • Machine
  • Materials
  • Methods
  • Personnel (Men)
  • Measurements
  • Environment

Alternatively, we may also use the five whys a technique or the 4 P’s (Product, Policies, Procedures, and Plant). We can also create our main causes to group the causes as we deem fit.

Examples of Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram

Example #1

Let’s try an example where the problem that needs our attention is wrong/delayed/damaged delivery. The possible reasons are many, like faulty packaging that led to damage during transit, the wrong product being released for delivery, or the address label on the product wasn’t correct. We can classify the same in main causes and present it in the fishbone diagram like below:

What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps find the root cause of a quality problem?

You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc, Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be Hyperlinked
For eg:
Source: Fishbone Diagram (wallstreetmojo.com)

Example #2

Let’s take one more example. Looking at how well we addressed the above problem, we have hired consultants from a burger store to identify the reasons for preparing a bad quality burger. The question sounds tasty. I mean engaging.

What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps find the root cause of a quality problem?

You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc, Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be Hyperlinked
For eg:
Source: Fishbone Diagram (wallstreetmojo.com)

Advantages

  • This technique is widely used in product design, quality improvement, and defect minimization.
  • Instead of pointing out just one reason, this technique gives us a gamut of all the possible reasons that assist not only in identifying the root cause of the current problem and avoid any future mishappening.

Limitations

This technique should not be used as a one-time activity. Instead, this activity should be undertaken continuously to be proactive in determining any possible loophole.

Conclusion

The fishbone diagram is a visual representation of cause and effect relationships. It is simple to use the tool yet very effective in improving a process and the quality of a product or service. With its continuous implementation, an organization can be proactive in determining any process shortcoming and address problems quickly and accurately.

The business organization can effectively use this tool to achieve six-sigma results in their processes. It can be drawn on paper, a spreadsheet, any word processing software, or with the assistance of much online software.

This article is a guide to a fishbone diagram (Ishikawa). Here we discuss examples of drawing an Ishikawa diagram with the factors causing a defect. You can learn more about financing from the following articles –

  • Form S4
  • Animation Chart in Excel
  • Template of Fishbone Diagram
  • Tornado Chart in Excel
  • Funnel Chart in Excel Example

What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram helps find the root cause of a quality problem quizlet?

The fishbone diagram or Ishikawa diagram, also known as the cause and effect diagram, is used to identify the cause of a specific problem.

What type of diagram also called a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram?

Ishikawa diagrams are sometimes referred to as fish bone diagrams, herringbone diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams, or Fishikawa. They are causal diagrams created by Kaoru Ishikawa to show the causes of a specific event.

What type of tool also called a fishbone diagram helps you find the root cause of this quality problem?

A fishbone diagram is a visualization tool for categorizing the potential causes of a problem. This tool is used in order to identify a problem's root causes.

What is fishbone or Ishikawa or cause

A cause-effect diagram is a visual tool used to logically organize possible causes for a specific problem or effect by graphically displaying them in increasing detail, suggesting causal relationships among theories. A popular type is also referred to as a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram.