716 Safety Management System Evaluation

The "5-Whys" Technique

The process typically involves asking "Why?" five times, or as many times as necessary, to move past the symptoms of the problem and uncover its underlying cause. This technique is widely used in various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and service sectors, to improve quality control, enhance processes, and solve complex issues.

How It Is Used

• Identify the Problem: Clearly define the problem you are facing.
• Ask "Why?": Ask why the problem occurs and write down the answer.
• Repeat: If the answer doesn’t reveal the root cause, ask "Why?" again. Repeat this step until the root cause is identified.
• Address the Root Cause: Once the root cause is identified, develop and implement a solution to address it.
• Review: Verify that the solution effectively prevents the problem from recurring.

Below is an example of a simple 5-Why process.

Problem: A machine in a factory has stopped working.

Analysis:

1. Why did the machine stop working? The machine stopped working because the motor overheated.
2. Why did the motor overheat? The motor overheated because it wasn’t properly lubricated.
3. Why wasn’t it properly lubricated? It wasn’t properly lubricated because the lubrication pump failed.
4. Why did the lubrication pump fail? The lubrication pump failed because it was not maintained.
5. Why was it not maintained? It was not maintained because there was no preventive maintenance schedule for the pump.

Root Cause: There was no preventive maintenance schedule for the lubrication pump.

Solution: Implement a preventive maintenance schedule to ensure regular lubrication pump maintenance, preventing future machine stoppages due to overheating.

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