Five-Why Process - discover the root caused of problems. Examples

5-Why Process

Discovering the root causes of the problem

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"A problem well stated is a problem half solved." ~ John Dewey

Are you solving problems or juggling symptoms?

The Five Whys is a simple but great technique to use to solve problems. It is a question-asking method used to explore the cause/effect relationships underlying a particular problem systematically. Ultimately, the goal of applying the 5 Whys method is to determine a root cause of a defect or a problem.

Five-Why Process - discover the root caused of problems. Examples

The Five-Why Process

In most situations, real problems and root causes are obscured by apparent problems. The intent of the "Five-Why" procedure is to assure that the route causes and not merely superficial symptoms are corrected.

The "Five-Why Process" was introduced at Toyota to find solution to manufacturing problems, but this approach can be applied to any other area as well.

Examples of 5-Why Questions

How To Become a Great Problem Solver best guidebook buy download

Ask "Why this problem happened?" to discover its underlying problem; then ask "Why?" again to go deeper by another level until you reach the root cause.

Asking "why" repeatedly, possibly more than five times, directs the focus toward real causes so problems can be solved permanently.

The Origin of the Five-Why Technique

The technique was originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda and was later used within Toyota Motor Corporation during the evolution of their manufacturing methodologies. It is a critical component of problem solving training delivered as part of the induction into the Toyota Production System.

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The architect of the Toyota Production System, Taiichi Ohno, described the 5 whys method as "the basis of Toyota's scientific approach . . . by repeating why five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear." The tool has seen widespread use beyond Toyota, and is now used within Kaizen, lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma. The 5 Whys really gets people involved using their brains and challenging the ‘status quo.’

"He who asks a question may be a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks a question remains a fool forever." ~ Tom Connelly

Kaikaku and the Five-Why Technique

"Ask "Why" five times," advises Hiroyuki Hirano in his "10 Kaikaku Commandments“ that provide a roadmap for radical improvements.

Norman Bodek, a Lean Manufacturing guru, writes in his comments to the 10 commandments, "In the mid-nineteen eighties I took Dr. Shingo to Granville-Phillips a manufacturer of vacuum testing equipment in Boulder, Colorado. Granville-Phillips had brilliant engineers, but they took four months to bring a new product to market (and then the result was 97% defects in final inspection). Dr. Bills, the CEO of Granville-Phillips, asked Dr. Shingo to please look at their manufacturing process to see if he could help them become more efficient. Shingo at first went to where the process originated. We went to watch the design engineers and then we followed a logical progression through the entire manufacturing process. At each stage engineers and managers would present problems to Dr. Shingo and he would carefully think and look and then instead of just giving the answer, he would ask the engineers some very basic questions. He loved to use the Five Whys, asking why five times.”

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'Why? What If?' Questions

Examples

The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.

Albert
Einstein

Joke: It only took one question "Why?"
to get to the root of the problem

The mother-in-law arrives home from shopping to find her son-in-law, Paddy in a steaming rage and hurriedly packing his suitcase.

"What happened Paddy?" she asks anxiously.

"What happened? I'll tell you what happened! I sent an email to my wife telling her I was coming home today from my fishing trip. I get home ... and guess what I found? Your daughter, my wife, Jean, naked with Joe Murphy in our marital bed! This is unforgivable! The end of our marriage. I'm done. I'm leaving forever!"

"Ah now, calm down, calm down Paddy!" says his mother-in-law. "There is something very odd going on here. Jean would never do such a thing! There must be a simple explanation. I'll go speak to her immediately and find out what happened."

Moments later, the mother-in-law comes back with a big smile. "Paddy, there, I told you it must be a simple explanation ............. She never got your email!

Slides

Great Problem Solver

Notes

Solve a problem and you'll be successful for a day.

Become a Great Problem Solver and you'll be successful for your lifetime!

Keep learning forward. If you strop learning, you stop creating history and become history.