In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler dives into one of his favorite problem-solving tools, the 5 Whys. While the concept seems simple on the surface, Dave unpacks the nuances of using this root cause analysis technique the right way. Through real-world stories from both manufacturing and service-based businesses, he explains how to dig deeper, test your assumptions, and avoid surface-level fixes that don't truly solve the problem.
What You'll Discover:
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Why simply asking “why” five times isn’t enough without proper testing and validation.
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A real-world example from Dave’s early career that uncovered a hidden mechanical issue.
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How to apply the 5 Whys framework outside of manufacturing to improve customer experience.
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The importance of turning insights into preventative actions and measuring success through KPIs.
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Common pitfalls in root cause analysis, and how to avoid jumping to the wrong conclusion.
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