Continous Improvement is an essential part of any organization's operatons nowadays. Lean method of CI emphasizes on Root Cause Analysis to further deploy tools for process improvement. Fishbone Diagram is a simple and widely used Root Cause Analysis device, explained in everyday language here.

1. Continuous Improvement Toolkit
By: Shilpa Singhal

2. What is it?
How to make?
Why do we need it?

3.  Tool for Root Cause Analysis
 Used to identify the causes of an undesirable effect
Also known as Cause-Effect diagram
Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3
Cause 4 Cause 5
Effect /
Problem

4.  Easy and practical format to
◦ Identify the causes of a business problem
◦ Organize the causes into a hierarchy
◦ Identity the sources of process variation

5. Categorization of causes : 5 M + 1 E
Manpower Environment Machines
Measurement Methods
Manufacturing
Materials

6.  Steps to construct
◦ Define the effect
◦ Determine major categories
◦ Brainstorm and ask questions
◦ Verify the accuracy of causes
◦ Plan actions for correction of causes

7.  Find the cause Eliminate the problem
Problems
Causes

8.  Allows us to dig deeper
Primary Cause
Cause
Sub-cause
Effect /
Problem

9.  Helps us
◦ Optimize the identified factors
◦ Identify initial information for later problem
solving tools
◦ Identify potential issues
◦ Product design & plan new processes

10.  High number of invoice errors for a company
Manpower Environment Machines
Measurement Methods
Invoice
errors
Materials
Open windows
Noisy office Incompatible
systems
Manual
Data Entry
Poor audit
system
Low morale
Memo layout
Paper supply

11. Continuous Improvement Toolkit
By: Shilpa Singhal