Cause-and-Effect

Diagram

By
Terry D. Vincent
Miad Alfaqih
 •Known as Fishbone or Ishikawa diagram

•Invented in 1960s by the Japanese quality control expert Kaoru

Ishikawa
What is a Cause-and-
Effect •It is a graphical tool for displaying a list of causes associated with a

Diagram? specific effect.

•Help to diagnose the problem rather than focusing on symptoms.

•Track down the reasons for imperfections, variations, defects, or

failures.
How to Construct a Fishbone Diagram?
• Steps to Start a Cause and Effect/Fishbone Diagram:

1. Identify the problem.

2. Write a clear problem statement (effect).

Cause Cause
Category Category

• 3. Brainstorm the primary categories of causes for the problem.

- Basic categories: methods, machines (equipment), people (manpower),
materials, measurement, and environment.
Cause Cause
Category Category
How to Construct a Fishbone Diagram?
(Cont’d)
• Steps to Start a Cause and Effect/Fishbone Diagram:
Cause Cause
Category Category

4. Brainstorm possible problem causes for each category. Cause Cause

Cause Cause

Cause
Cause Cause
Cause
Cause Cause
Category Category

5. Identify sub-causes. Cause

Category
Cause

6. Analyze the diagram and test for root causes Reason (Sub-cause)
Example
 •Advantages:

• Help identify cause and effect relationships with underlying

problems
• Help facilitate joint brainstorming discussions
• The brainstorming process encourages broad thinking
Advantages • The diagram shows areas of weakness that need correction or
improvement
and
•Disadvantages:
disadvantages • Complex diagrams with multiple factors can be too difficult to display
in a fishbone diagram.
• Complex diagram with high number of potential causes may look
complicated and hard to fix.
• It requires a large space to draw and develop the fishbone causes
and effects relationships
 • Hayes, A. (2020, August 29). Ishikawa Diagram Definition.
Investopedia.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ishikawa-diagram.asp.
• LLC, N. S. How to draw a cause and effect diagram. MyDraw.
https://www.mydraw.com/diagrams-cause-and-effect-
diagram-how-to-draw-cause-and-effect-diagram.
• Minnesota Department of Health (n.d.). Fishbone Diagram
(Cause and Effect

References Diagram). https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/prac
tice/resources/phqitoolbox/fishbone.html.
• Pearson, S. (2020, February 26). Definition – What is a
Fishbone Diagram? Tallyfy. https://tallyfy.com/definition-
fishbone-diagram/.
• SNF Quality Assurance & Performance
Improvement. (n.d.). How to Use the Fishbone Tool for Root
Cause Analysis. QAPI.
https://www.snfqapi.com/resources/root-cause-analysis.