Fishbone diagram
Trace the root causes of a problem on an Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram — organise causes into branches, then export SVG, PNG or PDF. Saved on your device.
Open Fishbone diagram →What is a fishbone diagram?
A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is a cause-and-effect map that traces the possible root causes of a problem, grouped into branches running off a central spine. This free maker lets you type the effect, organise causes into categories, and export the result as SVG, PNG or PDF. It runs entirely in your browser and saves your diagram on your device.
How to use Fishbone diagram
- Name the effect — Type the problem you're analysing into the effect field — it becomes the head of the fish on the right of the diagram.
- Add cause categories — Use Add cause category to create branches (such as People, Process, Equipment) and rename each one to suit your problem.
- List the causes — Under each category, type the contributing causes one per line, adding rows with + and removing them with ✕.
- Export the diagram — Download the finished fishbone as a scalable SVG, a PNG image, or a PDF for sharing and printing.
Frequently asked questions
What export formats are available?
You can export the diagram as an SVG vector, a PNG image, or a PDF.
Is my diagram saved if I close the tab?
Yes. The diagram is stored on your device, so it's there when you come back — and nothing is uploaded to a server.
What categories should I use?
Use whatever groups fit your problem. Common starting points are People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment and Management, but you can rename or add any category you like.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The fishbone maker runs entirely in the browser with no account, and keeps working offline after the first load.
When should I use a fishbone diagram?
Use it during root-cause analysis to brainstorm and organise the many factors that might contribute to a single problem before you test which ones actually matter.
Tips
- Start each branch with a broad category, then drill into specific causes underneath.
- Keep cause text short so the auto-layout stays legible when exported.
- Export to SVG when you need a crisp diagram to drop into slides or scale for print.
- Pair the fishbone with a 5 Whys session to dig deeper into the most likely causes.