Five Why’s Technique

by Peter Szóga
Warsawa, 16th – 19th January, 2023
2
 Content

• History of the technique

• A Bit of Theory

• Examples

• A Bit of Practice

3
 Historical background

• Originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda and was used within the Toyota Motor Corporation during the
evolution of its manufacturing methodologies.
• The basis of Toyota's scientific approach by repeating why five times the nature of the problem as well as its
solution becomes clear
• Not a „simple”problem solving technique, a method of root cause analysis instead: the method uses
"counter-measures," rather than "solutions." A counter-measure is an action or set of actions that seeks to
prevent the problem from arising again, while a solution may just seek to deal with the symptom.

Avoid treating the sympthoms, put your finger on the real cause instead and try to eliminate this.

4
 A Bit of Theory
• An iterative interrogative technique used to explore the cause-
and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem.
• The primary goal of the technique is to determine the root
cause of a defect or problem by repeating the question "Why?"
five times.
• The answer to the fifth why should reveal the root cause of the
problem.
Notes
• Five is just a rule of thumb.
• The questioning could always be taken further
to a sixth, seventh or higher level, but five
iterations of asking why is generally sufficient to
get to a root cause.
• On the other hand, in some cases, less then five
steps might just as well be enough.

• The key is to encourage the trouble-shooter to avoid

assumptions and logic traps and instead trace the chain of
causality to a root cause that still has some connection to the
original problem.

5
 A Bit of Theory
• The last answer points to a process. This is one of the most
important aspects in the five why approach – the real root cause
should point toward a process that is not working well or does
not exist.
• Untrained facilitators will often observe that answers seem to
point towards classical answers such as not enough time, not
enough investments, or not enough resources. These answers
may be true, but they are out of our control.
6
Criticism
• The five whys have been criticized as a poor tool
for root cause analysis, being to basic to provide
insight to the depth that is needed to ensure
that they are fixed.
• Tendency for investigators to stop at symptoms
rather than going on to lower-level root causes.
• Inability to go beyond the investigator's current
knowledge – the investigator cannot find causes
that they do not already know.
• Lack of support to help the investigator provide
the right answer to "why" questions.
• Results are not repeatable – different people
using five whys come up with different causes
for the same problem.
• Tendency to isolate a single root cause, whereas
each question could elicit many different root
causes.
 A Bit of Theory
Methodology
Key elements to a successful implemetation • Be focused. Pinpoint the exact problem.

• Define the problem. • Try to assemble a team of people from different

departments. Each representative has to be
familiar with the process that is going to be
• Form a team investigated.

• After every why, the answer must be checked if

• Honest and thoughtful answers. it is a cause that leads to another why or the
root cause you are looking for?
• Ability to make a difference between causes and real root cause.
• The process is very simple, yet can be easily
driven astray, if not truthful answers are given
• The goal must be kept in mind: for any reasons.

Not to solve a problem, but to identify the root cause of it • In case of complex problems, any why can lead
to multiply causes, so multiply why-series can
and try to eliminate it, so the problem will not happen again! be created and follow up to the bottom cause.

7
 Example #1 You got fined and you do not want to get fined again

Root cause? No. Set up a

procedure to
keep track of
Root cause? No.
the condition
of the battery
Root cause? No.

Root cause? No.

Root cause? Yes!

8
 Example #2

9
 Example #3

10
 A Bit of Practice – Why not?
#1 BDI Hungary lost a new F&B potential

#2 Optima Precise is likely to cancel the co-operation with us

#3 Bartlomiej is going to lose customers of Label Off 50

#4 Web-sales at Flex Fény stagnated in 2022

Or

#5 …

11
 A Bit of Practice – Why not?

12
 Thank you very much
for your kind
attention!

13