10 Fishbone Diagram Templates

Choose the Right Fishbone Format

An Ishikawa, or cause-and-effect, diagram organizes possible causes around a clearly stated problem. Use it to structure an investigation; the diagram alone does not establish which cause is correct.

• Cause-and-effect examples: use manufacturing, car breakdown, customer loss, or lab fire layouts to organize possible contributing factors.
• Category structure: start with categories relevant to your process. A manufacturing investigation may use People, Methods, Machines, Materials, Measurement, and Environment.
• Laboratory shorthand: the electrolyte, CMP, and lab examples use a fishbone-like arrangement for laboratory information. They serve a different purpose from root cause analysis.

Laboratory examples are illustrative learning layouts. Verify units and reference intervals against the reporting laboratory; sample ranges or notes should not guide diagnosis or treatment.

Customize a Cause-and-Effect Template

1. Open a suitable template and replace its example problem with a specific, observable effect.
2. Rename the major branches for your process and add possible causes and sub-causes under each category.
3. Review the suggestions with the people who know the process. Prioritize causes to investigate using observations or data rather than treating every branch as a confirmed root cause.
4. Revise the diagram as evidence emerges, then save the editable copy and share an available export for review.