This paper attempts to develop a hybrid cause and effect diagram (CED) and interpretative structural model (ISM) for root cause analysis in quality management. The proposed model overcomes the weakness of the CED in reliably articulating hierarchical cause–effect Relationships.
A focus group discussion (FGD) among quality experts in the case company to establish relationships between the determined causes.
The hybridization of the CED and ISM allowed the causes to be ordered more clearly to determine potential root causes as well as presenting these causes more comprehensively.
The paper has been one of the very few attempts to improve the CED approach. As such, this paper employs the ability of the ISM to order concepts in a hierarchical structure, which is useful in determining root causes.
