A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram typically categorizes causes into several groups. Which of the following is not a standard category?

A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram typically categorizes causes into several groups. Which of the following is not a standard category?

• A. People
• B. Machines
• C. Marketing
• D. Environment

Answer: (C)

In a fishbone diagram, the major branches represent factors that directly influence the process and can be investigated as root causes. The standard categories typically cover People, Methods, Machines, Materials, Environment, and often Measurements (and sometimes Management). Marketing does not fit these internal process-causing groups because it’s a strategic, market-facing function rather than a day-to-day input or condition that drives process variation. So the category that isn’t standard is Marketing. When analyzing a defect, you’d examine people and training, equipment and maintenance, material quality, the procedures used, measurement systems, and the work environment; marketing might influence product design or demand, but it isn’t a typical cause category on a fishbone diagram.

In a fishbone diagram, the major branches represent factors that directly influence the process and can be investigated as root causes. The standard categories typically cover People, Methods, Machines, Materials, Environment, and often Measurements (and sometimes Management). Marketing does not fit these internal process-causing groups because it’s a strategic, market-facing function rather than a day-to-day input or condition that drives process variation. So the category that isn’t standard is Marketing. When analyzing a defect, you’d examine people and training, equipment and maintenance, material quality, the procedures used, measurement systems, and the work environment; marketing might influence product design or demand, but it isn’t a typical cause category on a fishbone diagram.