The 5-WHY Forest Field Kit

Most root cause meetings end at "operator error." This kit gets you past the first easy answer and down to the one you can actually fix.

Eight print-ready templates that walk your team through the full 5-WHY Forest method, in order, from "something broke" to "here's who's fixing it, by when." A ribbon across the top of every page shows where you are in the process, so nobody has to remember the method. It's printed on the sheet.

What's inside (8 pages, US Letter):

1. Problem Definition – pin down what's broken, why it matters now, and where it is (and isn't) happening
2. The P.I.C.K. Scorecard – list every branch, score it, pick your first climb without guessing or voting
3. The Parking Lot – park the other theories with a custodian, so nobody hijacks the meeting
4. The "Therefore" Test – read your chain backward to prove you found a cause, not a coincidence
5. The Systems Stack – flip "who messed up" into "what let it happen" across five layers
6. Error Proofing – design the fix at three levels: prevent, detect, mitigate
7. The Action Plan – one owner per line, due dates, and how you'll know it worked
8. The "Wrong Tree" Drill – facilitator notes for practicing on a fake problem before a real one bites

One example runs through the whole kit (my wheel came off after a tire rotation), so every page shows you what goes in the box without a lecture.

Built for: supervisors, team leads, and anyone who's been handed a defect and a deadline. No Black Belt required.

Two versions included: full color, plus an ink-saver version for the office printer. Same pages, about 60% less ink. Your download arrives as one ZIP file containing both versions.

Printing: Prints fine on standard paper. 24–28 lb feels better on a clipboard.

From The 5-WHY Forest by William Brent. The book explains the why behind every page; the kit works without it.

Instant download after checkout. Print freely for use with your own team.