Use of the Ishikawa diagram in the investigation of some industrial processes

Abstract

The use of the Ishikawa diagram was proposed by Japanese professor Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s. The diagram must highlight the possible causes of a certain effect. In the research presented in this paper, the analysis method based on the design of the Ishikawa diagram was used to identify the factors able to ensure the adequate development of some investigations concerning certain industrial processes. It was found that various criteria could be used to evaluate the effect. Versions of Ishikawa diagrams were proposed in the cases of chemical engraving process, cast iron milling process, 3D printing process and the reliability of computer subsystems, respectively. A comparison of the Ishikawa diagram method with the systemic analysis method highlighted some particular aspects that could be considered when the problem of investigating the influence of certain process input factors on the process output parameters is formulated.