5 why’s analysis

Objective
The objective of the 5 why 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 why’s 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 the 5 why’s approach
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.
 When is 5 why’s 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
• 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.
• Ask “why the problem happens” and write the answer down
below the problem.
• 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.
• 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.