Page 35 - Yellow Belt Six Sigma

Exercise 5 Whys

Here's an example of how the 5 Whys could be used in Six Sigma:

Problem: Students are not receiving their scholarship award letters on time to pay their bill.

1. Why are students not receiving their scholarship award letters on time? Because the letters are not being sent out in a

timely manner.

2. Why are the letters not being sent out in a timely manner? Because the scholarship committee is not meeting regularly to
review and approve the awards.

3. Why is the scholarship committee not meeting regularly to review and approve the awards? Because committee members

have conflicting schedules and cannot find a time to meet.

4. Why are committee members' schedules conflicting? Because there is no designated time or process for scheduling
committee meetings.

5. Why is there no designated time or process for scheduling committee meetings? Because there is no standard operating

procedure for scheduling and conducting scholarship committee meetings.