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Finding root causes, Part 1: 5-Whys

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Quality-Root Cause

Last week I talked about what a “real root cause” actually is, but I didn’t say much about how to find them. Maybe a couple more words would be helpful. 

There are several tools you can use to dig out a root cause from under a big pile of symptoms. The simplest one is called a “Five-why analysis,” and you can think of it as “problem-solving by a bright, persistent six-year-old.” 

It all starts when something goes wrong. Somebody asks “Why?” and you give an answer.

“Yes, but why did that happen?”

Another answer.

“Yes, but why did that happen?”

A third answer.

“But Daddy, why did that happen??”

And so on. Just remember — six-year-olds never, ever get tired of this game.

The system is called “5-Why” but there is no law that you have to repeat the question “Why?” exactly five times. Maybe you can do it with fewer repetitions; sometimes it takes a lot more. But you keep at it until you get to a cause that is fundamental and actionable.

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Filed Under: Quality-Root Cause

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