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.

5 Why's Analysis

Continuous improvement utilizing Analytical Techniques.
Brainstorming
5 why’s analysis
Process Flow Diagrams/Flowcharts/Process Mapping
Check sheets /Check Lists
Run charts
Etc. Etc.
Information | Understanding | Best Practice >>>;


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.

TQM Tools and Techniques Full Details

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   >>>