5 Why's Template

The 5 Whys method can be used on its own or in conjunction with a Fishbone (also known as the cause and effect or Ishikawa) diagram. The Fishbone diagram helps you explore all potential or real causes that result in a single defect or failure. Once all inputs are established on the fishbone, you can use the 5 Whys technique to drill down to the root causes. There can be more than one cause to a problem as well. In an organizational context, generally a 5 Whys root cause analysis is carried out by a team of persons related to the problem.

What is it used for: To tunnel into the process to find the root cause of the process problem

Why use it:

• Help identify the root cause of a problem.
• Determine the relationship between different root causes of a problem.
• One of the simplest tools; easy to complete without statistical analysis.
• Understand why the systems did not detect the problem.

Where to use it: Can be used on any problem that requires the root cause to be identified.

When to use it:

• During root cause analysis to help identify the root cause or to identify where data needs to be collected.
• When problems involve human factors or interactions.
• In day-to-day business life, can be used within or without a Six Sigma project.

How to use it:

1. Write down the specific problem. Writing the issue helps you to formalize the problem and describe it completely. It also helps a team focus on the same problem.
2. Ask "Why" the problem happens and write the answer down below the problem.
3. If the answer you just provided doesn't identify the root cause of the problem that you wrote down in step 1, ask “Why” again and write that answer down.
4. Loop back to step 3 until the team is in agreement that the problem's root cause is identified. Again, this may take more or less than five “Whys”.

The template package has been developed for the user to identify the three problem paths and root causes of a typical production 5 why analysis problem:

1. Identify the root cause of how the problem occurred.
2. Identify why the problem was not detected.
3. Identify why the systems allowed the problem to occur.

Once all factual data has been gathered and entered on the template, a corrective action plan is implemented, next to each of the root cause results.

Important Notes

• The term “5 Whys” is a figurative term. A team might need more or less than five whys to tunnel down to the root cause of a problem.
• Be careful not to “lead” the questioning to a preconceived “why.”

Name Format Preview (Click to enlarge)   5 Why's Instructions. Microsoft Powerpoint Format   5 Why's Template One, with three 5 why analysis paths (Why the problem occurred? Why the problem was not detected? Why the quality system failed?) and corrective actions fields. Microsoft Excel Format   A 5 Why's completed production example. View a typical production problem where a part has a burr discovered, and the steps completed on discovering the root cause of the problem, why the problem was not detected and why the quality systems allowed the problem to occur. With all fields completed from root cause analyses to corrective actions for each leg. Microsoft Excel Format   5 Why's Template Two, with three 5 why analysis paths (Why the problem occurred? Why the problem was not detected? Why the quality system failed?) and corrective actions fields. Microsoft Excel Format

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