When solving problems or dealing with unexpected situations, the first thing to clarify is the "root cause of the problem". However, there are limitations to sorting out reasons solely by mental power. When the amount of information is too large, it is difficult to determine which factors require special attention.

At this time, the fishbone diagram can come into play. This article will explain the definition, overview, and application advantages of the fishbone diagram, and recommend four easy-to-use convenient tools. Among them, what deserves special attention is PicDoc—— an AI-driven website that automatically generates charts from textEven without professional knowledge, you can get started immediately. Therefore, it is especially recommended for beginners. Click here to try PicDoc

(Picture citation source: Wikipedia - fishbone diagram)

What is a fishbone diagram?

Fishbone Diagram: A chart used to visualize the structure of complex causes

A fishbone diagram is a chart that organizes and visualizes various factors (causes) involved in a certain characteristic (effect) in a hierarchical manner. Because of its shape resembling a fishbone, it is called a 'fishbone diagram'.

In a fishbone diagram, the problem or issue to be solved is set as the 'fish head'. The main bone runs through the center, and the'major bones' extending from it list the main causes. The intermediate and minor causes branching out from them are added in the form of 'intermediate bones' and'minor bones'. In this way, even complex causes can be clearly grasped through a fishbone diagram.

Advantages of using a fishbone diagram

The greatest advantage of using a fishbone diagram is the ability to 'visualize' the overall picture of the problem and the cause structure.Even for issues where multiple factors are complexly intertwined, their structure can be clearly grasped through a fishbone diagram. Therefore, fishbone diagrams are widely used in various scenarios such as quality management, business improvement, complaint analysis, and team brainstorming in the manufacturing and service industries.

For example, by mapping information into a diagram, it is possible to objectively evaluate which causes have a greater impact. At the same time, when decomposing and classifying factors, information omissions or duplications can be avoided, making the work proceed more smoothly. In team discussions, it is also easier to reach a consensus and form a unified opinion through visual common understanding.

Recommendations for 4 tools to easily create fishbone diagrams

1. PicDoc: Generate Fishbone Diagrams with One Click using AI

PicDoc is a tool that can automatically generate charts using AI just by entering text.After entering the description text of the problem and reasons, the AI of PicDoc will analyze the content and automatically generate a chart in the form of a fishbone diagram. Experience the automatic generation of fishbone diagrams now

PicDoc can not only automatically draw charts, but also configure the problem and factors in appropriate positions according to the meaning of the text, so it is very practical when making fishbone diagrams. In addition, when other analysis perspectives are needed, the AI can also write text based on the theme and provide suggestions. It is a reliable tool.

The usage method is very simple. First, enter the text describing the problem and factors, and then click the blue generation button that appears on the left.

Subsequently, the problem and its corresponding factors will be automatically displayed in the form of a chart in a fishbone-like structure. The system will provide a variety of fishbone diagram styles for selection, and you can choose according to your preference.

After that, you can freely customize the items, colors, icons, etc. of the fishbone diagram. Through custom editing, you can emphasize specific factors or adjust to your preferred color scheme.

The generated fishbone diagram can be downloaded in formats such as PNG, JPG, PDF, and PPT. It can be directly used in scenarios such as material production, presentation, and social media publishing.

PicDoc is currently in the beta version stage, all functions are free to use. If you want to immediately experience the function of AI automatically generating fishbone diagrams, click here to enter the official website of PicDoc

2. Lucidchart: An online tool for quickly creating charts using templates

Lucidchart is a chart-making tool that runs in a browser and is one of the most highly regarded chart-making tools globally. It supports multiple languages and provides dedicated fishbone diagram templates. You can quickly complete chart making by simply entering the necessary information.

In Lucidchart, you can easily replace graphics or adjust positions through drag-and-drop operations, and you will hardly encounter any operational confusion. Its sharing function is also very complete, making it very suitable for team collaborative editing.

3. EdrawMax: The software is powerful and supports offline use

EdrawMax is an application designed specifically for drawing. In addition to supporting the web version, it also provides offline applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux, allowing users to continue working even in an environment without a network connection.

EdrawMax offers a rich collection of fishbone diagram templates. Users can create professional-grade diagrams simply by dragging and dropping the required graphics. Although its functions are limited, it provides a free trial plan, making it suitable for users who want to try out the functions first.

4. Canva: A chart-making tool that emphasizes design sense

Canva is a widely popular online design tool. It offers a wide range of chart templates, including fishbone diagrams. Even users who are not familiar with design software can easily create charts through drag-and-drop operations.

Canva allows users to finely adjust elements such as fonts, colors, backgrounds, and icons, making it particularly suitable for users who pay attention to visual effects. In addition, this tool supports online collaboration with team members, making it very convenient for teamwork.

Conclusion

This article introduced the meaning, advantages of fishbone diagrams and 4 recommended production tools.

Fishbone diagrams play an important role in problem-solving and task organization by visualizing the cause structure. However, hand-drawing or manually creating fishbone diagrams is indeed time-consuming and laborious. By using the production tools introduced this time, the production efficiency of fishbone diagrams will be greatly improved. Especially the tool PicDoc that can automatically generate fishbone diagrams from text through AI can support factor organization and analysis with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Choose the most suitable tool according to your own needs.

PicDoc allows you to complete the production of fishbone diagrams in just a few seconds! Click here to immediately use PicDoc to create fishbone diagrams