5 Whys Template

5 Whys is a widely recognized technique for resolving work-related problems in a straightforward manner. It is so simple that can be completed without the need for complex statistical analyses. This technique is often used by Six Sigma practitioners primarily during the Analysis phase of the DMAIC methodology. Additionally, Lean practitioners rely on this technique to identify and eliminate wasteful and non-value-added activities.

This 5 Whys template provides a structured approach for listing your “Why” answers until finding the root cause of the problem at hand. It allows to support your answers with evidence and data in order to facilitates the validation of the underlying causes. Once the root cause has been identified, you can proceed to the “Corrective Actions” section and execute the necessary steps accordingly.

This template is a Microsoft Excel document that can be customized to meet your specific requirements. For example, if you need to dive deeper into the questioning process, you may add more rows to the table. Furthermore, you may allocate additional space for the corrective actions or relocate the entire section to a separate worksheet.