Objective

To understand Cause and Effect

Diagram

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 1

 Why would you like to use
this tool (deliverables)?

•To identify the causes that generate an effect.

• To classify the potential causes into different categories
and to organise them.
• To identify the governing variables without quantifying
their impact.

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 2

 When would you use this tool
(context)?

• During the ‘Analyse’ phase of a problem solving or

process improvement activity.

• When trying to identify the causes of poor performance.

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 3

 How to make the best use of
the tool (tips and traps)?

• Whenidentifying the potential causes through a series of

Why? questions, be very careful that every new cause should
be more specific than its effect (the next Why? in the chain).
•Invite all those familiar with the process to comment on the
final diagram – amend if necessary.
• Note that this tool is sometimes called the Fishbone diagram
orIshikawa diagram.

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 4

 How to use this tool (steps)?

1 Place the name of the problem or effect in the box on

the right of the diagram.Try to be as precise as possible.

2 Determine the major categories of causes and place

them above and below the main line of the diagram.To

identifythe major categories it is possible to:

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 5

 How to use this tool (steps)?
use ready-made ones that suit your situation:
Manpower, Machines, Method, Measurement,
Material;
Steps of the process;...
•Brainstorm ideas for causes and group them into
major categories and categories – give a title to each
category and the major category.
.

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 6

 How to use this tool (steps)?

3 By asking the question Why? repeatedly (up to five times)

for each of the major categories, chains of causes can be
identified for each of the categories.The results can be
presented in the manner of a ‘fishbone’

4 Quantify the impact of the causes on the effect -select for

improvement the causes that appear to have the greatest
impact.
Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 7
 What could be done next?

• Quantify the impact of the causes on the effect or problem. Use a

check-sheet, a scatter diagram or other statistical tools to assist.

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 8

Division, Content owner, Date: 29/12/2018 , ISO No 9