Which analysis tool uses a graphical representation to identify root causes of a problem?

The Fishbone Diagram, also known as the Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram, is a powerful analysis tool used to visually depict the various potential causes of a problem, facilitating the identification of root causes. Its structure resembles a fish skeleton, where the "head" represents the main problem, and the "bones" branching out show different categories of causes, such as people, processes, equipment, materials, and environment. By organizing potential causes in this manner, teams can systematically explore and narrow down the various factors contributing to an issue, thereby making it easier to identify the underlying root causes that need to be addressed for effective problem resolution.

The other tools mentioned serve different purposes: Control Charts monitor process stability over time and are useful for identifying variations; Scatter Plots visualize the relationship between two variables but do not directly indicate root causes; and Pareto Charts prioritize problems based on their frequency or impact but do not provide a cause-and-effect analysis. Understanding the specific functions of these tools highlights why the Fishbone Diagram is more suited for the purpose of identifying root causes through graphical representation.