Troubleshooting > 5 why method
WHY IMPLEMENT THE 5 WHY METHOD IN YOUR SUPPLIER?
Unforeseen problems can occur in any equipment or process.
However, problems are just symptoms of deeper causes.
A quick fix to a problem may be convenient, however, it does not protect your provider's workflow from recurring errors.
This is why your team should focus on finding the root cause and addressing it appropriately. The 5 Whys technique is one of the most effective tools for root cause analysis within the Lean Management arsenal.
In their daily work, each team faces obstacles.
However, using the 5 Whys will help your provider find the root cause of any problems and protect the process from recurring errors and failures.
By applying the 5 Whys technique, you seek to get to the essence of the problem and then solve it.
In reality, the 5 Whys can show that the source of the problem may be quite unexpected. Often, problems that may be considered a technical problem turn out to actually be human and process problems.
That's why finding and eliminating the root cause is crucial if you want your provider to avoid repeat failures.
WHAT IS THE 5 WHYS METHOD?
The 5 Whys technique helps achieve continuous improvement at any level of your supplier's organization through the following process:
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Train the team: a team of people from different departments.
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Each representative must be familiar with the process that will be investigated.
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Define the problem.
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Discuss the problem with the team and make a clear problem statement.
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Ask Why.
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Empower one person to facilitate the entire process. This team leader will ask the questions and try to keep the team focused. Answers should be based on real facts and data, rather than emotional opinions.
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The facilitator should ask “Why” as many times as necessary until the team can identify the root cause of the initial problem.
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After the team detects the root cause or causes, it is time to take corrective action. All members should be involved in a discussion in order to find and implement the best solution that will protect the process from recurring problems.
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When the decision is made, one of the team members must be responsible for applying corrective actions and observing the entire process.
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After a certain period of time, the team will need to meet again and check if their actions really had a positive impact. Otherwise, the process must be repeated.
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At the end, the case must be documented and sent to the entire organization. Sharing this information will give an overview of the different types of problems a team may deal with and how those problems can be eliminated.
WHICH ARE THE BENEFITS?
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Identify the root cause of the problem.
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It helps to analyze and understand how one action can cause a chain of problems.
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Get to the root cause quickly.
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Does not use complicated problem-solving techniques.
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Find out the relationship between the different root causes.
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