Single Point Lesson SPL#: P-132

P Fishbone Diagram Revision Date: 09.24.2012

Fishbone Diagram Reference Module: QE-18G Fishbone Diagram

I. What is a Fishbone Diagram?
• Also called the “Cause & Effect” or “Ishikawa Diagram”
• Map of major possible causes of a particular problem
• Provides structure to identify root cause
• Ensures major possible causes are not overlooked
• Straightforward and easy to learn visual tool
• Involves everyone in problem resolution

II. When do you use a Fishbone Diagram?

• Determine root cause
• Identify areas for data collection
• Study a non-performing process
FISHBONE DIAGRAMS

• DMAIC, in the Analysis step

• PDCA, in the Planning phase
• A3: Plan- Step 4: Analyze the root cause

III. How to create a Fishbone Diagram

It notes, flipcharts
Use butcher block paper, white boards, Post-It
Computers are not ideal because visibility is essential!

Name the problem.  Draw the major
categories
The first step is to identify the
problem and write the problem On the left side then draw the
to be solved (the EFFECT) as "backbone of the fish. The most
descriptively as possible at the frequent approach is to categorize
head of the fishbone by function, but be flexible in the
“skeleton”. major “bones” that are used. There
is no ideal set of categories or
numbers. Make the category
relevant to your problem.
 Brainstorm for detail
You can see that this is not
enough detail to identify specific
root causes. There are usually
many contributors to a problem,
so an effective Fishbone Diagram
will have many potential causes
listed in categories and sub-
categories. Include the team
members who are directly related
to the problem in this process.
 Identify critical causes  Confirm potential
causes are actual causes
Review the diagram and identify
causes you think are most critical Make sure you confirm the potential
for follow-up investigation. causes your Fishbone diagram
discovered are in fact actual causes.
The effectiveness of a Fishbone Do not generate action plans until
Diagram depends on the level of you’ve verified the cause.
analysis, moving past symptoms to
the true root cause and quantifying
the relationship between the
Primary Root Causes and the
Effect.

Why should we use C&E Priority Matrices? Things to remember:

PRIORITY MATRIX
CAUSE & EFFECT

• Help us evaluate and prioritize data
• Forces us to keep the customer in mind
• Easy to recognize causes to focus our
attention on
• Use a rating scale of 0-10, where 10 is the
most significant
• Involve those close to, or familiar with, the
problem and causes
• When only one output, rating for ‘voice of the
customer’ is 1
• Calculation (where X is the input and Y is the output):
(X1 x Y1) + (X1 x Y2) + (X1 x Y3) = TOTAL