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Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram

Problem solvingRoot cause

Reference model

Fishbone structure: causes feed into the problemA canvas of 8 boxes laid out on a grid of 5 columns and 4 rows: People, Process, Equipment, Spine, Materials, Environment, Measurement, Problem (effect).PeopleSkills, training,staffing, workloadProcessProcedures,handoffs,scheduling, rulesEquipmentMachines,vehicles, systems,toolsSpineEach category and its specific causes lead along the spine tothe problemMaterialsInputs, supplies,information, dataqualityEnvironmentLocation, market,weather, culture,regulationMeasurementMetrics, targets,inspection,reportingProblem(effect)The specificproblem you areexplaining, statedin measurableterms

The Ishikawa diagram helps visualize the relationship between a problem and its potential causes.

About this model

A visual tool that organizes potential causes of a problem into categories, resembling a fishbone structure. The problem is the head of the fish, and the major cause categories are the bones branching off the spine. It helps teams to brainstorm and analyze root causes systematically.

Originator not stated.

How to read it

  • Start with the main problem at the head of the fishbone.
  • Identify major categories of causes branching off the spine (commonly People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment, Measurement), then list specific causes under each category.
  • Treat every cause as a hypothesis to test before acting.

What this does

Identifies potential causes of a problem by categorizing them into a visual diagram, helping teams to pinpoint root causes systematically.

When to use it

Use it when a team needs to explore all possible causes of a specific problem to identify root causes and develop solutions.

Not when: Do not use it when the problem is simple or well understood, as it may complicate the analysis unnecessarily.

What happens next

Conduct a root cause analysis to validate the identified causes and prioritize solutions.

Golden thread

Builds on ←

  • Problem statement
  • Brainstorming session

Feeds into →

  • Root cause analysis report

Use this tool, free

Sign in to open the worksheet. Your work saves as you type, the AI can draft the parts you have not filled in, and you finish with an analysis and a 30/60/90-day action plan.

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Drafted with AI and reviewed by Eccellere on 04/11/2026. Guidance, not advice: apply your own judgement.