The Ishikawa diagram , also known as a cause and effect diagram or fishbone diagram , is perfect for this purpose, as it makes it easy to identify the causes of a problem and find the most efficient solution.
What is the Ishikawa diagram?
What is the Ishikawa diagram? It is a graphical tool created by Kaoru Ishikawa in 1943 that is used to identify and analyze the causes of a specific problem .
And how does the Ishikawa diagram work? This diagram is also known as a fishbone diagram because it is structured in the shape of a fishbone, with the problem in the 'head' of the fish and the causes, both primary and secondary, along the 'bones'.
Characteristics of Ishikawa diagram
This diagram is characterized by the fact that it can be applied in different fields, always with excellent results, its learning capacity and depth in analysis , and also by its effectiveness and efficiency .
It allows companies to clearly visualize cause-effect relationships , as well as to delve deeper into the analysis of complex problems. It also facilitates the identification of errors and the implementation of improvements in any type of process.
Ishikawa diagram structure
The Ishikawa scheme , also known as the Ishikawa fish , is capable of providing accurate solutions thanks to its peculiar structure.
It consists of a 'head' that represents the problem to be solved, a 'central lithuania business email list spine' that acts as a backbone , and several main and secondary 'spines' that represent the causes of the problem .
Now, what are the elements of the Ishikawa diagram ?
Main categories (6M)
The main categories of the Ishikawa diagram are known as the 6Ms, and are as follows.
Materials: Inputs used in the process, including their quality, availability and characteristics.
Workforce: Staff and their skills, training, motivation and working conditions.
Machines: All equipment and tools used, their condition, maintenance and efficiency.
Methods: Operating procedures and practices, including their adequacy and compliance.
Environment: Environmental conditions in which the work is performed, physical space, temperature and lighting.
Measures: Measurement and quality control systems used to evaluate how the process has been carried out.
Subcategories and relationships between causes and effects
Within each main category of each Ishikawa cause and effect diagram , it is possible to identify subcategories that further detail the possible causes.
For example, under 'Workforce', you might include factors such as staff experience, workload, or employee turnover.
The Ishikawa methodology has little to do with the Scrum methodology , although the latter can also be very useful to improve the effectiveness of your work teams.
What is the process of creating an Ishikawa diagram?
Knowing how to make an Ishikawa diagram is not complicated, but it requires following a specific order that we detail below.
Identifying the problem or effect
The first step is to clearly define the problem or effect to be analyzed and place it in the 'head' of the Ishikawa graph .
Data collection and analysis of potential causes
Brainstorming is carried out to identify all possible causes of the problem. It is advisable to involve people with diverse knowledge of the process in the brainstorming to get a broad and detailed perspective!
Building the diagram and organizing the causes
The Ishikawa matrix is drawn starting with the central spine and the main and secondary causes are added in the form of lateral spines.
The causes are organized into categories following the 6M scheme described above.
Practical applications of the Ishikawa diagram
Now that you understand what the Ishikawa diagram is used for, you might be interested to know that it has different practical applications, all of them very useful in different contexts. Find out how to get the most out of Ishikawa analysis !
Troubleshooting in manufacturing processes
