Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram maker
Put the problem at the head, categories on the bones and causes along each bone. Type it as an outline — the fishbone layout draws it.
How to use it
- First line: the problem. Indented once: categories. Indented twice: causes.
- Open in the editor and keep asking “why?” to add sub-causes.
- Export a PNG or PDF for your report.
How the layout works
The central topic is drawn as the fish head on the right with a spine running left. Each main branch becomes a diagonal bone, alternating above and below the spine, and its topics are listed along the bone with sub-causes indented beneath them. Because it is the same document as any other map, you can switch to an outline or a logic tree at any time without losing anything.
Common category sets are the 6 Ms (methods, machines, materials, measurements, people, environment) for manufacturing and the 4 Ps for services. The Root cause analysis template starts you with six categories.
FAQ
Can I mark the verified root cause?
Yes — tag it (for example #verified), change its colour, or mark it as a Decision topic type in the inspector.