Practical planning resource
Root Cause Analysis Template
Investigate a problem, trace a possible cause, and record a corrective action to verify.
Full root cause analysis
Problem statement, evidence, cause exploration, action ownership, and verification.
Download Full root cause analysis editable Word DOCXDownload Full root cause analysis Letter PDFDownload Full root cause analysis A4 PDF5 Whys worksheet
A focused chain of five questions, with evidence and a next action.
Download 5 Whys worksheet editable Word DOCXDownload 5 Whys worksheet Letter PDFDownload 5 Whys worksheet A4 PDFHow to use it
Describe the problem and its scope, collect observations, then ask why each condition occurred. Treat the fifth why as a prompt, not a promise that five questions always reveal the cause. Record the proposed cause, the evidence supporting it, corrective actions, owners, dates, and a way to check whether the action worked.
The 5 Whys sheet is a shorter companion. Neither document is a substitute for a formal incident, safety, medical, legal, or regulatory investigation.
Printing and privacy
Choose the PDF for your paper size and print at Actual Size, or edit the Word document or spreadsheet after download. These resources download directly; this page has no online entry form and does not collect your analysis, business details, or estimates.