Doc. No. : Rev. No.

/Date : Effective Date :

6/ 3 June 2013 10-Jun-13 4 of 4

TITLE:

CORRECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE ACTION PROCEDURE

Page No. :

VII. The 5 Whys Analysis

- the analysis technique which involves asking 'why' successively, until the one doing the analysis is convinced that he has arrived to the true root cause of the problem. The assignment of '5' is only arbitrary. The root cause may be arrived at the '3rd Why' or even more 'Why' is needed.

Non-conformity

1) Why did the nonconformity occur?

Answer to 1)

2) Why did the 'answer to 1' occur?

Answer to 2)

3) Why did the 'answer to 2' occur?

Answer to 3)

4) Why did the 'answer to 3' occur?

Answer to 4)

5) Why did the 'answer to 1' occur?

Root Cause

EXAMPLE:

Smeared Print Nonconformity

1) Why did the smeared print occur?

The blanket is dirty.

2) Why is the blanket dirty?

The operator did not clean the blanket.

3) Why didn't the operator clean the blanket?

The prescribed frequency of cleaning the blanket is every 1000 sheets but the blanket already got dirty after 500 sheets.

4) Why did the blanket got dirty after 500 sheets only?

The setting at the printing unit is not correct.

5) Why is the setting at the printing unit not correct?

There is no prescribed standard setting of the printing unit and the operator sets it by 'feel'.
Root Cause