Presented by: Chad Bullington, ABB & Kimball Bullington, Middle Tennessee State University
Area of Focus: Basics and Session Level: Basic
Cause-and-effect diagrams, also known as Ishikawa Diagrams, or Fishbone Diagrams, are one of the seven basic quality tools. Many of the examples of cause-and-effect diagrams are so simplified that practitioners cannot see the value in using them. This session begins with the primary cause categories that might be considered and puts meat on the bones. We will start with the 6M's category set and modify it, as well as suggest other major cause categories. Then we will develop the categories with target types of sub-causes. Some of the alternatives were developed from studying 600 cause-and-effect diagrams or almost 3,000 cause categories. Having predetermined starting cause categories and prompts for development should enable the practitioner to use the fishbone diagrams quickly and efficiently.
What Are the Categories Included in a Fishbone Diagram? While any number of categories may be used to fit a particular business, most often a fishbone diagram appears with six: manpower, materials, methods, machines, measurement, and environment (mother nature). These comprise the six M's of an Ishikawa Diagram. Myjdfaccount Payment
The session will focus on developing a comprehensive set of cause categories to use when creating these diagrams. The 6M's category set, which stands for Manpower, Methods, Materials, Machines, Measurements, and Mother Nature, will be introduced and potentially modified or expanded upon to better fit the specific needs of the practitioners. Other major cause categories may also be suggested.
Additionally, the session will provide guidance on developing subcategories within each cause category, using examples and prompts to help practitioners quickly and efficiently create effective diagrams. These prompts may be based on the analysis of many existing cause-and-effect diagrams and their associated cause categories.
One of the first steps in creating a fishbone diagram is determining the factors that contribute to variations within a process. Ishikawa describes these contributing factors as the 6 Ms in the manufacturing world: man, machine, method, material, measurement and Mother Nature. Emory Patient Portal
