A fishbone diagram template — also called an Ishikawa diagram template or cause-and-effect worksheet — gives a team pre-defined categories to brainstorm against instead of a blank page. The files below work under either name. This guide covers the three most popular frameworks — 6M for manufacturing, 6P for services and IT, and custom categories — with examples and a decision flowchart to help you pick the right one.
A fishbone diagram template gives your team a starting structure for brainstorming. Instead of staring at a blank diagram, you begin with pre-defined categories that prompt you to think about causes from multiple perspectives. The right template depends on your industry and the type of problem you are solving.
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All files use the 6M worksheet layout — category, candidate causes, a “most likely” marker, and an evidence column — with categories you can rename for 6P or custom frameworks. No signup, no email, direct download.
Fishbone / Ishikawa Template — Excel (.xlsx)
The Ishikawa diagram template in Excel: 6M grid, a Y/N drop-down on every row, likely causes highlighted for you, evidence column. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets and LibreOffice.
Download .xlsxFishbone / Ishikawa Template — PDF (print)
Blank printable fishbone template — one A4 page, nothing to install. Fill it by hand during the workshop, then digitise the two or three causes worth verifying.
Download .pdfFishbone / Ishikawa Template — Word (.docx)
The fishbone diagram template in Word: the same grid as an editable document table. Best when the Ishikawa analysis is one section of a longer report — an 8D, a CAPA, an audit response.
Download .docxFishbone Diagram Maker — Online
Build the diagram interactively — 6M, 6P or custom categories — and export it as an image. Nothing leaves your browser.
Open the toolWhich format should you download?
All three files hold the same worksheet: six categories down the left, a column for candidate causes, a Likely? marker and an evidence column. The choice between them is not about the diagram — it is about what happens to the analysis after the brainstorm ends.
| Format | What is actually in the file | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| Excel (.xlsx) | 6M grid, Y/N drop-down on every row, likely causes highlighted automatically, evidence column, header frozen so it stays visible as you scroll | the analysis continues — you will rank causes, add counts, or hand the sheet to someone who wants to sort and filter |
| Word (.docx) | the same grid as a document table, with problem, date and team fields above it | the fishbone is one section of something longer — an 8D D4 appendix, a CAPA record, a report that gets read and signed |
| PDF (print) | one A4 page, fixed layout, nothing to install or license | the workshop itself — printed, taped to the wall, filled in by hand with the team in the room |
| Online tool | the drawn diagram with sub-causes on every branch, exported as an image | you need the picture, not the grid — a slide, a ticket, an illustration inside a report |
Fishbone diagram template in Word (.docx)
Two different things get called a Word fishbone template, and it saves time to know which one you came for.
- A working grid you type into. That is the .docx above: problem, date and team at the top, then the six categories as table rows you fill in. It behaves like a document — it can be pasted into an 8D report, tracked with revisions, and signed off.
- A drawn fish you can edit in Word. Word can do this with SmartArt, but every new cause means dragging a shape, and the layout collapses once a branch gets long. Faster path: build it in the fishbone diagram maker, export the image, paste it into your document. The picture goes in the report; the grid stays with the analysis.
In a formal corrective action the grid is usually the one that matters. An auditor reading D4 of an 8D is looking for the evidence column — which causes were considered, which were ruled out and on what basis — and a drawing does not carry that.
Ishikawa diagram template in Excel (.xlsx and .xls)
The Excel file is a .xlsx, the format Excel has used since 2007. It opens without conversion in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers. If your system genuinely requires the legacy .xls, open the file and use Save as → Excel 97-2003 Workbook; the only thing lost is the drop-down, and the grid itself survives.
Two details in the spreadsheet do real work. The Likely? column is a Y/N drop-down, and marking a row yellow-highlights it — so the brainstorm ends with a shortlist instead of forty equal-looking lines. The evidence column is the honest part: it is where “we all know it is the supplier” either gets a measurement next to it or gets dropped. Take the two or three causes that survive into a 5 Whys analysis.
Blank printable fishbone template (PDF)
One A4 page, portrait, with the same four columns. It exists for the part of the process that a spreadsheet is bad at: eight people around a table, half of them not at a keyboard. Print one per session, write in the causes as they come, and photograph it before anyone tidies the room — the crossed-out lines are part of the record.
Afterwards, transfer only the marked rows into the Excel version. The paper sheet is the brainstorm; the spreadsheet is what you verify against.
Ishikawa diagram template: the same tool, the other name
If you were sent here looking for an Ishikawa diagram template, you already have it — the files above are it. Kaoru Ishikawa formalised the method for quality control at Kawasaki in the 1960s, and the diagram carries his name in academic and audit contexts. On a shop floor the same picture is called a fishbone, because that is what it looks like. Standards bodies and textbooks also use cause-and-effect diagram. Three names, one worksheet.
Which name to use depends on who reads the output:
- Ishikawa diagram — audits, ASQ material, academic papers, regulated documentation. The formal register.
- Fishbone diagram — workshops, shop floor, anything where you explain the tool in one sentence by pointing at it.
- Cause-and-effect diagram — when the audience knows neither term and you do not want to explain a metaphor.
None of this changes how you fill the template in: effect in the header, categories down the left, candidate causes against each one. The naming only matters when your analysis becomes someone else’s evidence.
Template 1: The 6M framework (Manufacturing)
6M Categories
The original Ishikawa framework, designed for manufacturing and production environments.
- Man (People) — operator skills, training, experience, fatigue, staffing levels
- Machine (Equipment) — calibration, maintenance, age, capacity, tooling
- Method (Process) — work instructions, SOPs, sequence of operations, handoffs
- Material — raw materials, components, suppliers, specifications, storage
- Measurement — gauges, instruments, inspection criteria, sampling, data collection
- Mother Nature (Environment) — temperature, humidity, dust, lighting, vibration
When to use the 6M template
Use the 6M template when your problem involves a physical production process. This includes:
- Product defects or quality deviations
- Equipment failures or downtime
- Supply chain and material issues
- Workplace safety incidents in production settings
- Process yield or throughput problems
6M example: Packaging line seal failures
Template 2: The 6P framework (Services & IT)
6P Categories
Adapted for service industries, IT operations, healthcare, and knowledge work.
- People — skills, training, communication, workload, teamwork
- Process — workflows, handoffs, approvals, automation, escalation paths
- Policy — rules, regulations, compliance requirements, standards
- Place (Environment) — office layout, remote work setup, tools availability, noise
- Procedure — documented steps, checklists, runbooks, SOPs
- Technology — software, hardware, integrations, monitoring, infrastructure
When to use the 6P template
Use the 6P template when your problem exists in a service or knowledge-work context:
- IT incidents and service outages
- Customer service quality issues
- Healthcare process failures
- Project management delays
- Compliance or audit findings
6P example: Customer onboarding taking too long
Template 3: Custom categories
Build your own framework
When neither 6M nor 6P fits your context, create custom categories that reflect where causes actually live in your organization.
- Marketing example: Message, Channel, Audience, Timing, Budget, Creative
- Sales example: Lead Quality, Sales Process, Pricing, Competition, Training, Tools
- Product example: UX, Performance, Reliability, Feature Gaps, Documentation, Onboarding
- Education example: Curriculum, Teaching Methods, Resources, Student Readiness, Assessment, Environment
When to create custom categories
Create a custom template when:
- Your problem spans areas not covered by 6M or 6P
- Standard categories force you to leave branches empty
- Your team keeps putting causes in the wrong category
- You are analyzing a business outcome (revenue, churn, NPS) rather than a process failure
How to choose good custom categories
- Start with 4–6 categories. Fewer than four misses perspectives. More than six overwhelms the team.
- Make categories mutually exclusive. If you cannot decide which branch a cause belongs in, your categories overlap.
- Name them simply. One or two words per category. Everyone on the team should understand what goes in each branch without explanation.
- Test with a quick brainstorm. Try listing 2–3 causes per category. If a branch stays empty, merge or replace it.
6M vs. 6P vs. Custom: comparison
| Aspect | 6M | 6P | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Kaoru Ishikawa, 1960s manufacturing | Service industry adaptation | Team-defined |
| Best for | Production, quality, supply chain | IT, healthcare, services | Business outcomes, unique contexts |
| Categories | Man, Machine, Method, Material, Measurement, Mother Nature | People, Process, Policy, Place, Procedure, Technology | 4–6 categories you define |
| Setup time | Instant (standard) | Instant (standard) | 10–15 min to define categories |
| Risk | Categories may not fit non-manufacturing problems | Categories may overlap (Process vs. Procedure) | Categories may be biased toward team's assumptions |
| Team familiarity | High (widely taught) | Medium (less standardized) | Low (requires explanation) |
Which template should I use?
Follow this decision flow to pick the right framework for your analysis:
Our free online fishbone tool lets you choose 6M, 6P, or custom categories — then add causes, sub-causes, and export your diagram. Use Free Fishbone Tool →
Tips for getting the most from any template
- Do not force causes into categories. If a cause does not fit any branch, you may need a different template or a new custom category.
- Brainstorm first, organize second. Some teams find it easier to list all possible causes on sticky notes, then sort them into categories afterward.
- Use sub-causes for depth. Each main cause can have its own sub-branches. This is where the fishbone starts to reveal the deeper structure of the problem.
- Combine with 5 Whys for root cause confirmation. The fishbone identifies candidates; the 5 Whys confirms which one is the true root cause.
- Keep it visible. Post the completed fishbone where the team can see it. Physical visibility drives accountability. For remote teams, use a shared digital tool.
For real-world examples of completed fishbone diagrams across seven industries, see our fishbone diagram examples guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Ishikawa diagram template the same as a fishbone template?
Yes — the same tool and the same worksheet. Kaoru Ishikawa formalised the method for quality control in the 1960s, so formal and academic contexts call it an Ishikawa diagram; workshops call it a fishbone because of its shape; standards often say cause-and-effect diagram. The Excel, Word and PDF files on this page work for all three names without modification.
How do I fill in an Ishikawa diagram template in Excel?
Write the problem as a measurable effect in the header cell. Keep the 6M categories for manufacturing or rename them for 6P if the problem is a service or IT process. List two or three candidate causes against each category — a category with nothing in it is information, not a gap to fill. Mark the most likely causes with the Y/N dropdown, put your evidence in the evidence column, then take the top two or three into a 5 Whys analysis to reach the systemic root.
Can I get a fishbone diagram template in Word?
Yes — the .docx above is the fishbone worksheet as an editable Word table: problem, date and team at the top, then the six categories as rows with a candidate cause, a “likely” marker and an evidence column. It is a working grid rather than a drawing, which is what a corrective action report actually needs. If you want the drawn fish inside a Word document, build it in the free fishbone maker, export the image and paste it in.
Does the Excel fishbone template work as .xls, in Google Sheets or LibreOffice?
The file is a .xlsx — the format Excel has used since 2007 — and it opens without conversion in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers. If a system genuinely requires the legacy .xls, open the file and choose Save as → Excel 97-2003 Workbook. The only thing lost in that conversion is the Y/N drop-down; the grid, the categories and the evidence column all survive.
Is there a blank printable fishbone template?
Yes — the PDF is one A4 page in portrait with the same four columns. It is meant for the workshop itself, where most of the room is not at a keyboard: print one per session, fill it in by hand, photograph it before anyone tidies up, then transfer only the marked rows into the Excel version.
What is the best fishbone diagram template?
The best template depends on your industry. Use 6M for manufacturing and production. Use 6P for service industries, IT, and healthcare. Use custom categories when your problem does not fit either standard framework. The key is that every category should contain at least 2–3 relevant causes during brainstorming.
What are the 6M categories in a fishbone diagram?
The 6M categories are Man (People), Machine (Equipment), Method (Process), Material, Measurement, and Mother Nature (Environment). This framework was developed by Kaoru Ishikawa for manufacturing quality control and remains the most widely taught fishbone structure.
What are the 6P categories in a fishbone diagram?
The 6P categories are People, Process, Policy, Place (Environment), Procedure, and Technology. This framework adapts the fishbone diagram for service industries, IT, healthcare, and knowledge work where physical materials and machines are less relevant.
Can I create my own fishbone diagram categories?
Yes. Custom categories are common and often more effective than forcing causes into a standard framework. Choose 4–6 mutually exclusive categories that represent distinct areas where causes might originate. Test them by brainstorming 2–3 causes per category — if any branch stays empty, replace it.
Is there a free online fishbone diagram template?
Yes. The 5xWhys.com fishbone tool works as a free interactive template. Choose your category framework (6M, 6P, or custom), add causes and sub-causes interactively, and export the result as an image. No signup, no download, no watermarks.
Recommended Reading
- The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook — George et al. — Step-by-step instructions for fishbone diagrams and 50+ other tools
- The Quality Toolbox — Nancy R. Tague — Comprehensive reference with blank templates and worked examples
Related resources
- Free Online Fishbone Diagram Tool — interactive templates with export
- Fishbone Diagram Examples: 7 Real Case Studies
- Best Fishbone Diagram Software in 2026 — seven tools compared, prices verified at source
- Free 5 Whys Template (Excel & PDF)
- 5 Whys vs. Fishbone Diagram: When to Use Which
- Free 5 Whys Online Tool