Cause and Effect Diagram

Solving problems is practically impossible without taking into account many factors and their cause-and-effect relationships between them. Visualizing those relationships is even more helpful when attempting to brainstorm define root causes and conceive possible solutions

Kaoru Ishikawa created the Cause and Effect Diagram in 1943 to do just this in order for Kawasaki Steel Works engineers to understand how factors related to their work might be sorted and associated. Because of his involvement in the creation of the cause and effect diagram, these charts conveying all-too-important relationships  between seemingly disconnected elements in a system are frequently referred to as Ishikawa diagrams. In some circles, they are also referred to as fishbone diagrams, since at certain stages of their drawing, they look a bit like, well, fish bones.

How to Use Cause and Effect Diagrams

Few quality-related problems are easily resolved. More frequently, various causes intermix in unique and complicated ways to produce the final negative impact upon quality one wishes to improve. The use of a cause-and-effect diagram allows you to:

• Define and display the fundamental causes, related causes and root causes that impact a system, process or outcome this process is frequently referred to as fishbone analysis,
• Provide the focal point to discuss alternatives and come to a joint conclusion on appropriate remediation,
• Understand  the potential interrelationships of various causes which ultimately lead to the symptomatic defects or noted issues,
• Measure and Improve process flows and during in the Lean Six Sigma methodology,
• Provide a focus for Kaizen Blitzes in order to focus on the highest value efforts. Read the rest of this entry »
  

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