5 Whys

	Bookmark This Page Email This Page Format for Printing Post A New Term

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

#

5 Why's New from iSixSigma Information Technology and Six Sigma Research Report Six Sigma Saves a Fortune Research Report Accounts Payable Revenue Generation Project Example The 5 why's typically refers to the practice of asking, five times, why the failure has occurred in order to get to the root cause/causes of the problem. There can be more than one cause to a problem as well. In an organizational context, generally root cause analysis is carried out by a team of persons related to the problem. No special technique is required. An example is in order: You are on your way home from work and your car stops: Why did your car stop? Because it ran out of gas. Why did it run out of gas? Because I didn't buy any gas on my way to work. Why didn't you buy any gas this morning? Because I didn't have any money. Why didn't you have any money? Because I lost it all last night in a poker game. I hope you don't mind the silly example but it should illustrate the importance of digging down beneath the most proximate cause of the problem. Failure to determine the root cause assures that you will be treating the symptoms of the problem instead of its cause, in which case, the disease will return, that is, you will continue to have the same problems over and over again. Also note that the actual numbers of why's is not important as long as you get to the root cause. One might well ask why did you lose all your money in the poker game last night? _____ Here's another example. I learned the example using the Washington Monument used when demonstrating the use of the 5 Whys. The Washington Monument was disintegrating Why? Use of harsh chemicals Why? To clean pigeon poop Why so many pigeons? They eat spiders and there are a lot of spiders at monument Why so many spiders? They eat gnats and lots of gnats at monument Why so many gnats? They are attracted to the light at dusk. Solution: Turn on the lights at a later time. _____ Read the iSixSigma article on the 5 Whys. Posted By: Marc R. Modified By: Rajesh Last Modified: Jul. 29, 2003

"The Bottom Line" Links

BMG CERTIFICATION Enhance Your Career With Lean Six Sigma Skills Green Belt or Black Belt - May 12 :: Atlanta, GA Green Belt to Black Belt Upgrade - July 7 :: Atlanta, GA

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY   Earn Your Lean, Green or Black Belt Six Sigma Master Certificate Online BOOST YOUR SALARY! *$38k more than uncertified counterparts. Learn From Industry Leaders!   START NOW

SIGMAPRO MBB, Lean Sigma, & DFSS   when experience matters most...

M O T O R O L A U N I V E R S I T Y Learn from the most experienced practitioners of Six Sigma in the world Public Training & Certification Click here to take a free Six Sigma Lesson

J URΛN   Lean Six Sigma Public Workshop Upgrade to Black Belt- May 2008 Become one of your organization's 'vital few'. Get Juran Certified.

. ISSSP Follow the Leaders to Arizona! 9th Annual Six Sigma Leadership Conference May 19th-22nd, 2008 • Scottsdale, AZ Click Here: More information & REGISTRATION .

HOWARD UNIVERSITY 4 weeks + 1 cost saving project + 1 mentor + 1 caring instructor = 1 Marketable Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY 4 weeks + 1 cost saving project + 1 mentor + 1 caring instructor = 1 Marketable Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN 2 weeks + 1 project = Black Belt Certification

. Find us on LinkedIn Join the iSixSigma Network and Connect with Other Six Sigma Pros .

Download the iSixSigma Toolbar for 1-Click access. Search Your Way. Everyday. Without Delay.

BEST SELLING PRODUCTS (iSixSigma Publications) 2008 VERSION! Six Sigma DMAIC Training Slides The OSSS Six Sigma DMAIC course is comprised of:1,176 slides, Instructor notes, Slide explanations, 37 data sets, 20 sup... Gage R&R Excel Template Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R) studies measure the amount of measurement variation that is attributabl... Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Assessment Exam This test is useful for students interested in assessing their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma on the Black Belt level. It c... Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Assessment Exam This assessment exam is useful for students interested in assessing their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma on the Green Belt ... NEW VERSION! Process Management Training Slides The OSSS Process Management course is designed in two phases comprised of:352 Powerpoint slidesInstructor notesSlide exp... NEW VERSION! Six Sigma Green Belt Training Slides The OSSS Six Sigma Green Belt course is comprised of: 1047 slidesInstructor notesSlide explanations35 data sets20 suppo... 5th Annual iSixSigma Global Salary Survey Research Report The 5th Annual iSixSigma Global Salary Survey report is based on the responses of 2,142 Six Sigma professionals currentl... Sell Your Products