5W1H problem description poster

5W1H is a set of six questions (what, where, when, who, which and how) that turns a vague complaint such as "the machine stops a lot" into a problem statement a team can work on. It comes before any cause analysis: root cause work that starts from a problem nobody described tends to chase the wrong thing. This poster gives one line per question and shows the same problem before and after.

Download the poster

The PNG is free to download now. The print-ready vector PDFs open after a short form, once.

Download PNG (300 dpi)2550 x 3300 px, prints at 8.5 x 11 in · 439 KB · no form

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5W1H problem description poster — 24 x 36 in18 x 24 inA2A3LetterA4PNG 300 dpi

The words on the poster

Describe the problem first

5W1H turns a vague complaint into a problem you can solve.

What? What exactly is wrong? Name the defect, part and spec.
Where? Which line, machine, station? Where on the part?
When? Which shift, which hour? After a start-up, changeover or new lot?
Who? Which crew or role sees it? To find a pattern, never to blame.
Which? Which product, model or material lot? Is there a trend?
How? How big and how often? How is it different from normal?

Before: "The sealer stops a lot."

After: "Sealer 3 stops about 9 times a night shift, in the first hour after a changeover, mostly on film roll B."

Go and see. Answer at the spot, with the part in your hand, not from memory.

On the floor

How to use it

Putting the 5W1H problem description poster to work

1
Hang it where problems are first raised: the tier board or the quality board.
2
When someone reports a problem, answer the six questions at the spot before anyone asks why.
3
Rewrite the problem statement once the answers are in, and use the new one from then on.
4
Pair it with the free 5W1H template and the 5G investigation sheet.

Where the poster goes and how to teach with it, in the order to try them.

Which size to print

24 x 36 in or A2: a main wall or team board, read from a few metres away.
18 x 24 in or A3: a station or notice board. The A3 file also fits 11 x 17 in paper.
Letter or A4: a clipboard, binder or handout, on any office printer.

Every PDF is vector, so it stays sharp at full size. Nothing runs to the edge of the page, so no bleed is needed.