Understanding What is a Fishbone Diagram as a Tool for Troubleshooting.

In this article, you will learn what is fishbone diagram and how to use it in process excellence, lean six sigma, and lean manufacturing activities.

FISHBONE DIAGRAM DEFINITION

A Fishbone Diagram (also called a Cause and Effect Diagram or Ishikawa Diagram) is a visualization tool for categorizing the potential causes of a problem in order to identify its root causes. sigma definitions

This lean six sigma tool is considered one of the seven basic quality tools in process excellence. The fishbone diagram describes the most probable causes for an effect or problem.

It is important to do not confuse the problem with the cause of the problem.  In medicine, for example, fever and pain are the effects and symptoms of a problem.  Meanwhile, viral infection and trauma may be the root causes.

DEFINE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

A problem is defined as the effect, symptom, observed behavior, failure or error that is triggered and caused by one or more root causes.

The advantages of the fishbone diagram are that can be used to structure a brainstorming session. Because you can sort ideas into useful categories.  It is recommended to use this tool for just one problem at a time.

NOTE: Highly experienced people can combine more than one problem in the same Fishbone diagram.

WHEN IS RECOMMENDED TO USE A FISHBONE DIAGRAM

Suitable when a team of persons shall be involved in brainstorming to evaluate one complex problem.

When required the identification of all possible or potential causes for a problem.

When a team’s thinking tends to fall into ruts.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PREPARE A FISHBONE DIAGRAM (CAUSE AND EFFECT DIAGRAM)

1. Describe one problem at the time to be analyzed in the center of the diagram. Agree with your team on a problem statement (effect). Write it at the center-right of the diagram. Draw a box around it and draw a horizontal arrow running to it.
2. During the brainstorming, describe the major categories of causes of the problem. Some companies use specific headings for their categories but other companies use generic headings, such as:

• • Methods
  • Machines (equipment)
  • People (manpower)
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Environment

3. Describe the categories of causes as branches from the main arrow of the fishbone.
4. Make a brainstorming of ideas related to all the possible causes of the problem. Determine the origin of the problem considering “Why does this happen?” Then, write each idea or possible root cause as a subbranch from the appropriate category.  As applicable, feel free to write the root cause(s) in several subbranches or places if they apply to more than one category.
5. Apply the 5 Why’s an approach, repeating again the question(s) of “Why this problem happen?” about each cause previously defined. Feel free to write sub-causes branching off the causes. Once applying the 5 Why’s the approach and asking “Why?” in the brainstorming generate deeper levels of causes. Each layer of branches represents a causal relationship.
6. Once all ideas are considered during the brainstorming with your team responding all why’s this problem happens, then, pay attention to all causes on the branches with more probability to occur, to assign the top three most probable causes and priority number for further evaluation.

FISHBONE DIAGRAM EXAMPLE

The following fishbone diagram was prepared to understand a particular problem of bioburden contamination in medical device products found out of specifications. During the brainstorming were used the six generic headings to present the probable root causes and ideas. As you can see the layers of branches show thorough thinking about the causes of the problem.

For example, under the heading “Machines,” the idea “maintenance” and “validation” can show several kinds of equipment and then several specific machine models.

CIQA is a quality and regulatory consultant with 25 years of experience developing products and managing projects in the medical device supply chain, and pharmaceutical industries. Rest assured of the safety or being in the right hands.

Our Lean Manufacturing team could provide you a broad range of professional expertise implementing these techniques and tools.

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REFERENCES: What is a Fishbone Diagram.

httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_Six_Sigma

httpss://www.greycampus.com/blog/quality-management/a-brief-introduction-to-lean-and-six-sigma-and-lean-six-sigma

httpss://asq.org/quality-resources/fishbone