Ishikawa Diagrams Definition

Ishikawa diagrams, also called fishbone diagrams or cause-and-effect diagrams, are a tool for identifying the potential causes of a problem. The name is derived from the fact that the diagram resembles the skeleton of a fish.

Ishikawa diagrams can be used to identify both the root cause of a problem and the contributing factors. They are often used in quality improvement initiatives and can be adapted to almost any problem-solving situation.

There are four main components to an Ishikawa diagram:

1. The Problem: This is stated at the head of the diagram as a question or brief description.

2. The Potential Causes: These are listed on the left side of the diagram and represent all of the possible causes of the problem.

3. The Contributing Factors: These are listed on the right side of the diagram and represent all of the factors that contribute to each potential cause.

4. The Relationship Between Causes and Contributors: This is represented by arrows connecting potential causes to their corresponding contributing factors