Choosing the right fishbone diagram template saves time and ensures your brainstorming covers every relevant angle. 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.
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:
The best template is an interactive one
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
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