Cause & Effect Diagram
A cause-effect diagram, also known as Ishikawa diagram, is a visual tool used to identify and describe the cause of a problem or effect.Created by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa is in the 1960s and is widely used in problem solving, optimization and fundamental analysis.
The diagram is named because of its shape resembling the skeleton of a fish, the problem or appearance being the “head” and the sole making the legs look like “bones”.
It helps a team or individual to explore different groups of resources that lead to a deeper understanding of the root cause of a particular problem.
Here’s how to create an Issue Report:
Problem Identification: Clearly describe the issue or impact you want to investigate and improve. Write these trouble points “at the beginning” of the fish-bone diagram.
Describe Key Categories: Identify key groups or factors that may be causing issues. Categories are usually represented by the following 6 “skeletons”:
· Method
· Machine
· Material
· Man
· Measurement
· Environment
Make Chart: Draw a horizontal like, & make a Box of end of the line for Problem description. Then make 45deg. Line for each categories identified as above, Label each line with one of the key categories defined in step 2.
Brainstorm: Work with a team or problem solver to identify possible causes in each category. These reasons are the small branches that continue from the connecting lines.
Analysis and Improvement: Analyze and discuss potential causes to ensure they are specific, measurable, and relevant to the problem. Categorize to break up larger groups if needed Identify the reason: “Why? And validate the each potential cause.
Action: After identifying the root causes, creating and implementing the necessary measures to resolve and eliminate them.
Cause and effect diagrams guide your problem solving. The Cause and Effect Line simplifies the way to resolve problems and encourages the search for potential team solutions to the root of the problems rather than just the symptoms. It is a powerful tool to support continuous improvement and problem solving in an organization.
