How to Create and Analyze an Ishikawa Diagram
Kaoru Ishikawa created the Ishikawa diagram to map cause and effect visually. This chart, also called the fishbone diagram or the cause-and-effect diagram, can be used to explain the many parts that add to a larger, main idea. Companies and teams use Ishikawa diagrams to address complex problems that they are facing by breaking down the ideas. Often used as a tool in the methodology of Six Sigma, the Ishikawa diagram may have ribs designating such categories as the four Ps (policies, procedures, people and plant/technology) and the six Ms (machine, method, materials, measurement, man and Mother Nature).
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Instructions
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Creating the Diagram
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1
Create a horizontal line in the center of your page or whiteboard with a circle at one end. The Ishikawa diagram is called the fishbone diagram because of this shape: The line is the fish's spine, and the circle is its head. Write down the problem, the known effect, at the head.
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2
Consider how many categories of causes add to that effect. This is where you may use the four Ps, six Ms or another set of categories. Create as many ribs as you have categories, drawing them at 60-degree angles to the spine. Write the category at the end of the rib.
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3
List all the aspects under the categories. For example, if you used the four Ps, each P should have its aspects written down the rib.The “People” category might list all the employees in the organization.
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Expand any aspects that can be discussed further. On the People rib, examine the employees that have some influence on the effect you are discussing.
Analyzing the Diagram
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5
Focus on the ribs that are full. Are there serious problems that need to be addressed?
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6
Discuss the most likely causes of your problem and conduct further research to see if those causes are valid.
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Meet with your team to brainstorm creative solutions. Use the information from your research and all your team’s ideas to address the problems that you identified.
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