Fishbone Diagram

What is a Fishbone Diagram?

A fishbone diagram is a cause-and-effect discovery tool that helps figure

out the reason(s) for defects, variations or failures within a process.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fishbone Diagrams

Advantages Disadvantages

Helps Identify cause and effect Irrelevant potential causes can

relationship cause confusion

Helps develop in-depth joint Complex issue may lead to a

brainstorming discussion messy diagram

Works well with the 5 whys to drill Lends itself to the divergent
down to a root cause quickly approach

Helps prioritize relevant causes, Based on the opinion rather than

allowing you to address underlying evidence; it needs testing to prove
root causes. results
 The 6 Ms

Manpower - the operational and/or functional labor of people engaged in

the design and delivery of a product. This is considered a fairly rare “cause”
of a given problem

Method – a production process and its contributing service delivery

processes.

Machine - systems, tools, facilities and equipment used for production.

Material - raw materials, components and consumables needed to produce

a desired end product.

Mother Nature (Environment) – environmental factors that are

unpredictable and uncontrollable like weather, floods, earthquakes, fire,
etc.

Measurement – manual or automatic inspections and physical

measurements (distance, volume, temperature, pressure, etc.).