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:
Why simply asking “why” five times isn’t enough without proper testing and validation.
A real-world example from Dave’s early career that uncovered a hidden mechanical issue.
How to apply the 5 Whys framework outside of manufacturing to improve customer experience.
The importance of turning insights into preventative actions and measuring success through KPIs.
Common pitfalls in root cause analysis, and how to avoid jumping to the wrong conclusion.
