Which tool is commonly used for root cause analysis?

The Fishbone diagram, also known as the Ishikawa diagram, is widely recognized as a powerful tool for root cause analysis. Its distinctive structure allows teams to visually map out the potential causes of a problem by categorizing them into main branches that represent different factors, such as policies, processes, people, materials, and environment. This comprehensive approach helps teams examine underlying issues systematically and identify the root cause of a problem, rather than merely addressing the symptoms.

In contrast, the other tools listed serve different purposes within quality improvement and data analysis. A histogram is used for visualizing the distribution of data, while a Pareto chart is utilized for prioritizing causes based on their frequency or impact, providing insights based on the 80/20 rule. A scatter plot is employed to identify relationships or correlations between two variables. While these tools can complement the process of root cause analysis, they do not function as direct methods for identifying the root causes in the same comprehensive manner as the Fishbone diagram.