What is a 5 Why template ?

A root cause protocol helps to identify the root cause of a specific problem and to implement appropriate solutions. Teams perform a 5-Why analysis by asking "why" five times until the root cause of a problem is identified.

This article contains of:

1. Tips for a 5 W analysis

2. A mobile application for a 5 Why template

tips for creating a 5 Whys template

Using the 5-Why method as a template for a cause protocol may be easy when done individually, but it is much more effective when done as a team. To effectively identify a root cause together, it is essential to communicate in a clear, logical and diplomatic way. The following three tips will help you to perform a successful 5-Why template analysis:

1. Define a problem as clearly as possible

It is particularly important to identify a clear problem within a company. It can be difficult to define certain problems and determine their roots, so teams need to communicate well and distinguish between problems, such as: The marketing team is incompetent. The problems should be clear, measurable facts based on sufficient evidence, such as: Our last campaign was comparatively unsuccessful.

2. Find the cause

When using a 5 whys template, you should focus on the cause-and-effect relationship between certain answers. It is important to distinguish between the root cause of a particular problem and another symptom of that problem. You should always try to find clear, logical causes for each problem.

3. Put emphasis on teamwork

Once a solution is found, it is crucial to form a team to ensure constant progress for corrective actions of any kind. Usually the result of the 5 Why analysis indicates that certain aspects of a company have been neglected. This neglect cannot be avoided by fixing the problem once and expecting it to be solved forever. A team should be in place to carry out regular risk assessments, review all corrective actions implemented and evaluate progress within the company. In this way, you will ensure a smooth and safe workflow in day-to-day business and build a strong brand reputation.

4. countermeasures

If the cause of the problem has been identified, the aim should be to eliminate the cause permanently. Timelines and responsibilities are important for all measures. Both should be determined within the team, as discussed in point 3.

5. check

After the implementation of the countermeasures a control with a 5 Whys template is successful. It must be checked whether the countermeasures were successful or whether the problem has reoccurred. It may be necessary to investigate the cause again.

A mobile application for a 5 Why template example

With Lumiform's mobile app, you can efficiently perform quality and safety audits, report problems in a snap and quickly assign corrective actions to responsible colleagues. Secure communication with all team members and third parties allows you to improve internal processes and resolve incidents up to four times faster.

Individual digital forms

The flexible form construction kit makes it possible to create new individual checklists at any time and to adapt them again and again.

First class customer service

Lumiform’s excellent 24/5 support will reliably answer all your questions about the app when you need assistance using the tool.

Scheduling and notifications

The Lumiform App ensures that the schedule is kept. All employees receive notifications about the procedure and due dates. Managers automatically receive notifications when assignments are overdue and problems have occurred.

Time-defined work steps

Keep an eye on your schedule and use the information to identify opportunities to increase your efficiency.

Faster identification and resolution of problems

The data you collect from inspections is collected under the Analysis Tab. Here you can access all data and view your performance reports broken down by time, location and department. This helps you quickly identify causes and problems so you can fix them as quickly as possible.

Track inspections in facilities over time

Monitor your team’s inspection performance and identify opportunities to improve the process and efficiency of your operations.

Integrations

Connect Lumiform’s Software to enterprise software systems.

Time-defined targets

Keep an eye on what’s happening and identify insights from the information gained to increase your efficiency.