5 Whys Analysis...
Information | Understanding | Best Practice.
The objective of a 5 whys analysis approach to problem solving is to be able to move past seeing the symptoms of a problem and getting to the true root cause of the problem.It has been found that by the time you ask why 5 times, and get 5 well considered answers, you can normally see where the problem originated, thereby enabling you to treat the root cause rather than the symptoms of a problem.
The 5 why approach is thought to have been created by Sakichi Toyoda (1867 – 1930), the founder of Toyota, as a simple way to begin any investigation with the aim of determining the “root cause”. The 5 whys approach can be used to solve any simple problem including production issues, customer service, product quality, hazard control and incident or accident investigation.
The benefits of 5 whys analysis include:
• Simplicity, i.e this is not a highly technical process, can be understood by all and yet is highly effective.• Is a process which helps identify the root cause of a problem.
• Can lead to an understanding of the relationship between different root causes of a problem.
Continuous improvement utilizing Analytical Techniques.
Brainstorming
5 why’s analysis
Process Flow Diagrams/Flowcharts/Process Mapping
Check sheets /Check Lists
Run charts
Etc. Etc.
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When is 5 whys analysis most useful?
• When problems involve human factors or interactions.• In day-to-day business life. Can be used is almost any routine problem solving situation.
How to complete the 5 whys:
#1: Write down the specific problem. Writing the issue helps you formalize the problem and describe it completely. It also helps ensure that all members of a problem solving 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 fewer or more than five Why’s.
5 Whys and the Cause & Effect Diagram
The 5 Whys can be used individually or as a part of the Cause and Effect (also known as the Ishikawa or Fishbone) 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.
Quality Improvement Techniques
TQM | Total Quality Management …
- Continuous improvement utilizing Analytical Techniques.
- Brainstorming
- 5 why’s analysis
- Process Flow Diagrams/Flowcharts/Process Mapping
- Check sheets /Check Lists
- Run charts
- Histograms
- Scatter Diagrams/Scatter Plot
- Cause and Effect/Fishbone/Ishikawa Diagrams
- Identifying sources & causes of variation
- Control/Shewart Charts/DPU Charts
- Cpk and Ppk Analysis
- Pareto Analysis
- Bottleneck Analysis
- Benchmarking
- FMEA
- FTA
- HAZOP
- PDCA/DMAIC/DMADV
- SIPOC
- Etc. Etc.
- Information | Understanding | Best Practice >>>