5 Whys & Fishbone Quick Checklist

Use this short checklist during a focused problem-solving session to keep work evidence-based and efficient.

1. Define the problem with a measurable symptom (who/what/where/when/how often).
2. Collect immediate evidence (logs, photos, measurements) before brainstorming.
3. Create a fishbone to capture possible causes across categories (People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment, Measurement).
4. Pick the 1–3 most likely cause lines to investigate further.
5. Apply 5 Whys on each chosen line; stop each line when evidence supports a root cause.
6. Record evidence for each why — avoid assumptions without proof.
7. Propose countermeasures that change the system, not just retrain or discipline people.
8. Define how you will measure success (baseline, metric, target) before implementing.
9. Test a countermeasure at small scale with a timebox and owner.
10. Review results and either standardize and share or iterate with new hypotheses.