The 5 x Why Method (The 5 Whys)




Six Sigma
Knowledge Center

Translate

Forum
18
Ger de Waard
Management Consultant, Netherlands

The 5 x Why Method (The 5 Whys)

DESCRIPTION OF THE 5 WHY METHOD
The "5 x why" method has been developed by Toyota to perform an iterative Root Cause Analysis of production-related problems. The "5 x why" method is one of the available tools for performing a root-cause analysis. Its simple design and effective output made the 5 x why method also into a popular method used in Kaizen, Lean Production, Six Sigma, Value Stream Analysis, etc.

HOW DOES THE 5 X WHY METHOD WORK?
  • IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM for which the root cause has to be identified.
  • ASK: WHY has this problem arisen? The result is a reply with a new or different problem.
  • KEEP ASKING: WHY? Take the first answer (or problem) and reformulate the question: Where has this issue has arisen? Repeat these steps until you arrive at the core (root-cause) of the issue/problem.
USING THE 5 WHYS. APPLICATIONS
The 5 x Whys can be used for several things:
  • VALIDATING ASSUMPTIONS: It is a simple tool that helps the Belt to unearth an assumption embedded in the process he/she is investigating. Once an assumption is revealed and of course also tested with data, it ensures excellent results.
  • DETERMINING ROOT CAUSES: However 5 x Why is more used in determining the Root Cause(s) of problems
    This technique is most used in the Analyze phase of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). The 5 x Whys doesn’t involve a statistical hypothesis and in many cases can be completed without a data collection plan.
  • FINDING NON-VALUE ADD ACTIVITIES: The 5 Whys can also be used as a tool in Value Stream Analysis. Value stream mapping is as we know hard work because it requires looking at a process as if every step is non-value-added and is costing the organization time and resources. The 5 Whys is an easy way to root out as many non-value-added steps as possible.
IS ASKING “WHY?” 5 TIMES ENOUGH?
Often you need to ask 6, 7 and even sometimes 8 x Why to find the real root cause of the problem. Perhaps a better name would be "Multiple Why’s Method".

EXAMPLE OF 5 WHYS
An excellent example of 5 x Why is the Jefferson Memorial by Juran Institute.
 

Rating

 
1
Ashok Kella
Manager, India
 

Our Endorsement to the 5 Whys

Yes, recently, in a complex issue dissecting in our organisation, unaware of the 5 Whys theory, we s... Sign up

 
4
David Week
Director, Australia
 

Better, but not 'root'

Five Whys is a great way to get better answers, but I think that’s it's a problem to call the result... Sign up

 
5
Ivan Kohlinsky
Management Consultant, Guernsey
 

Back to Fundamental Thinking

Excuse me, but I am asking myself WHY is this method thought of as new, useful and fundamental, as i... Sign up

 
4
Dr. Schoenborn
Management Consultant, Germany
 

5-W in Combination with Impact Measurement

I agree with @David that 5-W is a good approach for root-cause-analysis, but you should be aware tha... Sign up

 
3
Wulf-Dieter Krueger
Teacher, Thailand
 

5 Times Why - the Emperor's New Clothes

Watch your children asking this question again and until they are satisfied with the answer. This m... Sign up

 
0
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Root Cause by Conscious Approach

A rational approach is certainly a way to get clarity, however could there be other ways also? For e... Sign up

 
1
David Torres
Manager, Mexico
 

5 x WHY’S is not Enough for Me

I took an 8D’s course and the homework was to take a real actual client customer complaint, so my te... Sign up

 
7
Johnny Michael Tan
Management Consultant, Malaysia
 

I Prefer the Following Name for this Tool: Why-Why Analysis

I want to share that when my Semiconductor manufacturing site was pursuing Total Productive Maintena... Sign up

 
2
Rodolfo Dionisi
Argentina
 

Tools According to Problem Complexity

Remember that the first step to solve a problem (or to be more precise, to have reasonable chances o... Sign up

 
0
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Role of Biases in Determining the 5 Whys

The 5 Whys as a tool is available for long and is available everywhere. Why is it not effective as i... Sign up

 
0
Mireille.durin
HR Consultant, Belgium
 

1 WHY is Enough Sometimes

@Srinivas: There is always a WHY... Why this situation, why this conflict, why this feeling... But i... Sign up

 
3
Pedro Monteiro
Manager, Portugal
 

5 Why is Excellent Tool to Start and Get Back to the Basics

5 Whys is one of the best, simple and effective problem solving tools. Is it not enough?! Yes, some... Sign up

 
2
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Preparing for Usage of 5 Whys

Before we use the 5 Whys is it possible and useful to try to reduce any biases by preparing at diffe... Sign up

 
2
VILMA JOY VALLE, Philippines
 

You Can Use 1 Why or 5 Whys or Multiple Whys

Not all people can solve a particular problem with just one "why". And not all problems, even how k... Sign up

 
1
Ashok Kella
Manager, India
 

Change 5 Why into Why-why Analysis

@Johnny Michael Tan: I agree with you that "Five" is symbolic; the introducer has intended to make y... Sign up

 
1
Dietmar W. Sokowski
Consultant, United States
 

Back to Fundamental Thinking

@Ivan Kohlinsky: Good point Ivan. Your comment is ever so true. Similarly, the 7-Ws have been around... Sign up

 
3
Sudheendra G. Mudikeri
Management Consultant, India
 

A Tip for this Fundamental Why-Why Technique

No matter how many WHYs are used, this tool has withstood the test of time as an effective one for R... Sign up

 
2
Olaf de Hemmer
Business Consultant, France
 

Why? or: What For?

I agree with pointing out that 'root cause' is helpful in solving certain problems. Causality is at ... Sign up

 
1
C.L. Kappagomtula
Professor, Malaysia
 

Even a Single 'why' Can Suffice, Without Overtly Asking 'Why'

Those of you working in production/operations might have come across this situation several times, a... Sign up

 
1
Miguel Sacramento
Business Consultant, Brazil
 

5 Why is not Japanese

@Wulf-Dieter Krueger: Yes. Every children has a "multiple why device" already built-in.... Sign up

 
1
Bevis Qiu
China
 

Find the Most Cost-Effective Solution after 5 Whys

Different solutions can be found through different Why questions. I think we might then compare the ... Sign up

 
1
Olaf de Hemmer
Business Consultant, France
 

Children Ask Why? Meaning what For?

@Wulf-Dieter Krueger: Are chidren not more interested in understanding the meaning / purpose of thin... Sign up

 
1
Miguel Sacramento
Business Consultant, Brazil
 

5 Why is not Japanese

@Olaf de Hemmer: Sometimes yes. It depends on each case. For instance, "Why are you prohibiting this... Sign up

 
1
Wulf-Dieter Krueger
Teacher, Thailand
 

Children Asking Why

Children ask why for the same reason as anybody else in management or in a company: there is a probl... Sign up

 
0
FASESIN David
Manager, Nigeria
 

5 WHY Methodology is Advanced

The 5 WHY methodology for problem solving is more advanced than the perspectives of some others disc... Sign up

 
0
Ashok Kella
Manager, India
 

Advanced 5 WHY Methodology

@FASESIN David: The effectiveness of Why-Why has been evaluated in combination with GEMBA, GSTD and ... Sign up

 
0
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Organisation Service or Product Delivery - Human Analogy-Root Cause

When we considering an organization as a living being, then there is always a relation to the mind, ... Sign up

 
1
jorge anibal hoyos hoyos
Manager, Colombia
 

Ask as Many Whys as Necessary

When talking about WHYS I also recall my kids when they were young asking all the time "WHY PA?" I t... Sign up

 
0
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Conscious Approach

We have expert systems which are currently under development which use artificial intelligence and f... Sign up

 
2
VILMA JOY VALLE, Philippines
 

Methods of Iterative Root Cause Analysis

We have a lot of tools available in the past and at present to solve problems. This includes the use... Sign up

 
0
Lee, Youngki
Consultant, Korea (South)
 

My Important Experience with 5 Whys

I engaged a company in a training meeting with employees. They raised a major concern that the curre... Sign up

 
0
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Delegation of All Rationally Viable Methods

If all rational methods including why why approach which can be automated and performance is better ... Sign up

 
0
Olaf de Hemmer
Business Consultant, France
 

AI and Causes / Goals

@Srinivas: I'd be curious to see how AI gets the answer to "why?": the 'cause' may be possible to fi... Sign up

 
2
Paramathmuni srinivas Kumar
India
 

Feedback Loop Mechanism

Using semantic web technologies which are based on artificial intelligence it is possible to interpr... Sign up

 
1
C.L. Kappagomtula
Professor, Malaysia
 

Stochastic Approach to Root Cause Analysis May Be the Need of the Day

I fully concur with Ger De Waard's argument to not restrict to 5 Whys alone. There is no real sancti... Sign up

   

More on Six Sigma:
Summary
Discussion Topics
🥇 3 Additional Six Sigma Levels
🥈 The Basis of Six Sigma? Statistics and Discipline
🥉 Implementing Six Sigma: Roles
Six Sigma in an R&D context
👀The 5 x Why Method (The 5 Whys)
Focus of Six Sigma: The 6 Rights
Six Sigma DMAIC and DMADV
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Sustaining Momentum of Process Improvement over Time
Is Six Sigma Enough? (To Improve the Quality Level of an Organization...)
Six Sigma for Marketing
The Cost of Poor Quality: Tools for Effective Control & Reduction
Tools for Finding Root Cause in 6 Sigma
Add Standardization to DMAIC Phases in Six Sigma (DMAICS)
Evaluating Six Sigma Projects
Preparing Six Sigma: Requirements
Differences Between Six Sigma and TQM
Hypothesis Testing in DMAIC Projects
Six Sigma Effectiveness
Six Sigma in Medical Transcription
Disadvantages of Lean Six Sigma. Drawbacks
Evaluating Six Sigma Project Leaders
Best Practices Lean Six Sigma in Social Care
Quality Lessons in Dealing with Contractors
Six Sigma Manufacturing Example
Six Sigma for Retail
6 Sigma Timeframe/Period
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
Six Sigma In Inbound Call Center
Six Sigma in Passengers Handling
🔥 7 Key Principles of Six Sigma
Next Step after Voice Of Processes have been Defined?
Good Practitioner Books on Lean - Six Sigma, S&OP?
Organizational Development + Six Sigma or Lean
Should Six Sigma start after Lean Implementation?
Lean 6 Sigma in Laboratories
Special Interest Group

Do you know a lot about Six Sigma? Become our SIG Leader

Six Sigma
Knowledge Center



About 12manage | Advertising | Link to us / Cite us | Privacy | Suggestions | Terms of Service
© 2023 12manage - The Executive Fast Track. V16.1 - Last updated: 9-6-2023. All names ™ of their owners.