5 Whys worksheet

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Problem titleReference no.Area / process / productDateTeamFacilitator

Status

1 State the problem

What is wrong with what, where it was seen, since when and how often — as a fact, without a cause in it.

Problem statementWhere it was seenWhen / since whenHow many / how oftenEvidence of the problem

Containment in place?

2 Ask why

Answer each why with something observed, measured or found in a record, and write down how you know. Each answer is the direct cause of the one above it.

Why 1 — Why did the problem happen?How do we know?Why 2 — Why did that happen?How do we know?Why 3 — Why did that happen?How do we know?Why 4 — Why did that happen?How do we know?Why 5 — Why did that happen?How do we know?

3 Root cause and countermeasures

The process or standard the chain ends at, how it was confirmed, and the actions that remove it.

Root causeChain check

Chain passes both tests?

Verification: how the cause was confirmed

Root cause verified?

Countermeasures
#	Countermeasure	Removes	Owner	Due date	Status
1
2
3
4

4 Follow up

Compare the problem’s measure before and after the countermeasure. If the problem came back, the chain was wrong somewhere.

Result after the countermeasure

Problem gone?

Checked onChecked byStandards updatedLessons learnedReviewed byDate closed

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