Fishbone diagram examples.
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What a fishbone diagram is.
A fishbone diagram, also called an Ishikawa diagram, is a cause-and-effect drawing. The problem appears at the head, while major categories form the bones and smaller branches capture possible contributing causes.
Use it to structure a root-cause discussion before deciding what to test. Manufacturing teams often start with the 6Ms: people, machines, materials, methods, measurement, and environment; service teams can choose categories that fit their work.
- Standard
- Ishikawa (1968) cause-and-effect
- Engine
- schematex-fishbone
- Editable
- Double-click text, drag nodes
- Export
- SVG · PNG · PDF
Who uses fishbone diagrams.
Investigate a defect across the 6M categories before choosing corrective actions.
List equipment, space, technique, and planning factors behind an incident or risk.
Separate people, approvals, assets, tools, metrics, and outside conditions behind a late launch.
How to make a fishbone diagram in three steps.
Describe it
One paragraph is enough to start.
See the drawing
Drawn by the right engine.
Say what changes
Every edit keeps a version.
Common questions
What is a fishbone diagram?
A fishbone diagram maps possible causes of one defined effect. Major categories branch from a central spine, and more specific causes branch from each category.
What categories should I use?
Manufacturing teams commonly use people, machines, materials, methods, measurement, and environment. Choose categories that match the process being studied.
When should I use a fishbone diagram?
Use one when a problem may have several contributing causes and a group needs a structured way to brainstorm and investigate them.
Is a fishbone diagram the same as 5 Whys?
No. A fishbone diagram broadens the search across several categories. The 5 Whys follows one possible causal chain in more depth.
Other drawings for the same work.
Map the causes behind your problem.
Free account, no card. Start with the effect and the categories your team knows best.
Open the editor