Fishbone Diagram for Root Cause Analysis Training

Welcome to this training on using the Fishbone Diagram, a powerful tool for identifying the root causes of a problem. This technique, also known as the Ishikawa Diagram or Cause-and-Effect Diagram, is a visual way to organize potential causes of a problem.

What is a Fishbone Diagram?

A Fishbone Diagram is a visual tool used in quality management and problem-solving to help identify, explore, and display the potential root causes of a specific problem. It is called a "fishbone" because the diagram looks like the skeleton of a fish, with the problem statement at the "head" and the causes feeding into the main "spine" of the fish.

When to Use a Fishbone Diagram

The Fishbone Diagram is most effective when a team is trying to identify potential root causes for a problem. It is especially useful when:

• You need to solve a complex problem where multiple factors could be at play.
• You need to brainstorm and categorize the various causes of a problem.
• You want to get a holistic view of a problem, rather than focusing on a single cause.
• You are working in a group and need to structure the brainstorming process.

How to Create a Fishbone Diagram

Creating a Fishbone Diagram is a straightforward process that involves several key steps:

1. Identify the Problem (The Head): State the problem clearly and place it in a box at the far right of the page. This is the "head" of the fish.
2. Draw the Spine: Draw a horizontal line from the problem box to the left. This is the main "spine" of the diagram.
3. Add Main Categories (Major Bones): Brainstorm major categories of causes. These are the "major bones" of the fish. Common categories often include:
   • Manpower: People involved.
   • Methods: Processes or procedures.
   • Machines: Equipment or technology.
   • Materials: Raw materials, parts.
   • Measurements: Data or metrics.
   • Environment: The surrounding conditions.
   Draw angled lines from the spine for each category.
4. Brainstorm Specific Causes (Minor Bones): For each category, brainstorm specific causes and draw them as smaller lines (minor bones) branching off the main category lines. Ask "why?" to dig deeper into each cause.
5. Analyze and Find the Root Cause: Review the diagram and identify the most likely root causes. The goal is to find the fundamental issues, not just the symptoms.

Example: A Website's Page Load Time is Slow

Here is an example of a simple Fishbone Diagram for a slow-loading website page.

• Manpower: Inexperienced developers, poor training.
• Methods: Inefficient code, lack of testing, poor deployment process.
• Machines: Outdated server, slow network connection.
• Materials: Large image files, unoptimized assets.
• Measurements: No performance monitoring, inaccurate data.
• Environment: High user traffic, outdated browser versions.