Fishbone Diagram Maker
Write the problem on the first line, the categories of cause under it, and the causes under each category — indented, like an outline — and get a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram: the effect in the head, a bone for each category, a twig for each cause. Suggested category sets are one click away, the layout never overlaps, and you can download the result as SVG or PNG. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
Line one is the effect (the problem, in the head of the fish). Lines indented under it are the categories; lines indented under a category are its causes, and a further indent makes a sub-cause. Indent with spaces or tabs; bullets and numbers are removed, and a trailing colon on a category is ignored.
Category suggestions (add to the outline, then edit)
Starting points only — every set has variants, and the best categories are the ones that fit your problem.
6 categories · 11 causes · 1 sub-cause
Show the diagram as a table
| Category | Level | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | Cause | No standard packing routine |
| Methods | Sub-cause | Each shift packs in its own order |
| Methods | Cause | Orders held until the truck is full |
| Machines | Cause | Label printer jams |
| Machines | Cause | Scanner battery fails mid-shift |
| Materials | Cause | Boxes out of stock |
| Materials | Cause | Wrong sizes on shelf labels |
| People | Cause | New staff untrained on the system |
| People | Cause | Overtime needs late approval |
| Measurement | Cause | Delivery time recorded only at dispatch |
| Environment | Cause | Winter road closures |
| Environment | Cause | Dock too small for two trucks |
Title and figure style
Takes the title out of the image and sets the figure number in bold and the title in italics above it — the APA 7 layout.
How to Use the Fishbone Diagram Maker
- 1. State the effect. Put the problem on the first line, as specifically as you can — Customer orders arrive late works better than Delivery problems. It becomes the head of the fish.
- 2. Add categories. Write each category of cause on its own line, not indented as far as the causes. Type your own, or press one of the suggestion buttons (6 Ms, 8 Ps, 4 Ss) to add a starting set and then rename or delete what does not fit.
- 3. List the causes. Indent each cause under its category, and indent a sub-cause one step further under its cause. Spaces or tabs both work, and bullets or numbers you paste in are removed.
- 4. Read the diagram. Categories alternate above and below the spine from left to right; causes are the short twigs on each bone. The table under the picture lists every cause for readers who cannot see the image.
- 5. Download. Take the SVG or PNG. Switch on APA style figure if the diagram goes into a paper: the figure number and title move above the image and an optional note goes below.
The Input Syntax
The tool reads indentation, nothing else. The first line is the effect (a leading Effect: or Problem: is dropped). Lines at the next level are categories, and a trailing colon on a category is ignored. Lines under a category are causes; anything nested deeper is a sub-cause.
Outline and what it draws
Effect: Customer orders arrive late
Methods
No standard packing routine
Each shift packs in its own order
Orders held until the truck is full
Machines
Label printer jamsThe effect is the head. Methods is the first bone, drawn above the spine, with two causes and one sub-cause on it. Machines is the second bone, drawn below, with one cause.
What a Fishbone Diagram Is
A fishbone diagram, also called a cause-and-effect or Ishikawa diagram, sorts the possible causes of one problem into categories so a team can see what to investigate. It is named for Kaoru Ishikawa, the Japanese quality-control scholar who popularised it in the 1960s, and it is one of the standard tools of quality management. The diagram shows possible causes. It does not tell you which one is responsible; that needs data, which is why many teams follow a fishbone with a Pareto chart or a few rounds of why?.
Category Sets You Can Start From
| Set | Categories | Usually used for |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Ms | Man (people), Machine, Method, Material, Measurement, Mother Nature (environment) | Manufacturing and process problems |
| 8 Ps | Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process, Physical evidence, Performance | Marketing and service problems |
| 4 Ss | Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems, Skills | Service-industry problems |
These are suggestions, not rules. Each set has variants — some sources list five Ms, some eight, and the 4 Ss sometimes gain a fifth for safety — and the Ishikawa method does not fix the categories in advance. Choose the ones that match how your problem could really arise, drop any that stay empty, and add your own. A category with no causes is drawn as a bare bone.
Tips for a Useful Diagram
- Keep the effect observable. A problem you can measure (late orders, low yield) gives causes you can test.
- Ask why under each cause. If a cause is only a symptom, a sub-cause usually names what is behind it.
- Keep it readable. The tool draws up to 10 categories and 14 causes in each, but a diagram of 3 to 6 categories with 2 to 4 causes each is the one people can discuss.
- Cite your sources. If the causes come from interviews, records or a published study, say so in the figure note.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a fishbone diagram used for?
- It is used to brainstorm and organise the possible causes of one problem — a defect, a delay, a drop in sales, a failed experiment. The problem sits at the head of the fish and the causes are grouped on the bones, so a team can see which areas to investigate first.
- What are the 6 Ms of a fishbone diagram?
- The 6 Ms are a common starting set of categories for manufacturing: Man (people), Machine, Method, Material, Measurement and Mother Nature (environment). Versions differ — some lists have five Ms and some eight — so treat them as prompts, not a fixed list.
- What is the difference between a fishbone diagram and a flowchart?
- A flowchart shows the steps of a process in order. A fishbone diagram shows the possible causes of one outcome, grouped by category, with no sequence. Use a flowchart to describe how something happens and a fishbone to explore why it went wrong.
- How many categories should a fishbone diagram have?
- Four to eight is typical — the common sets have four, six or eight. This tool draws up to 10. If one category holds far more causes than the others, it may be two categories — or the real area to investigate.
- Does a fishbone diagram prove what caused the problem?
- No. It records hypotheses. To find out which cause matters, test them: collect data, run an experiment or count how often each occurs. A Pareto chart of the counts is a common next step.
- How do I cite a fishbone diagram in APA?
- A diagram you make yourself is a figure: give it a number and a title above, and an optional note below. Turn on APA style figure here to set that layout. If you adapt a published diagram, add a note crediting the source and follow the reproduction rules in the guide linked below.