The Root‑Cause Toolkit
The same structured worksheets we use on engagements — built to take a team from symptom to verified root cause. Fill them in right in your browser, then save a clean, watermarked PDF for your records.
Eight ways to find the real cause
Start anywhere — or run them in sequence: define the problem with Is / Is Not, map causes with Fishbone, drill in with 5 Whys, rank risk with FMEA, and report it out with A3 or 8D.
Fishbone Diagram
Map every potential cause of a defect across the six classic categories — people, method, measurement, machine, material, and environment.
5 Whys Analysis
Drill from symptom to source by asking “why?” until you reach a process-level cause you can actually fix — with built-in space for corrective action.
3‑Legged 5 Whys
The rigorous 5 Whys. Run three parallel legs — why it occurred, why it escaped detection, and why the system allowed it — so the fix actually holds.
FMEA Worksheet
Score failure modes by severity, occurrence, and detection. The Risk Priority Number calculates itself, so the biggest risks rise straight to the top.
A3 Problem Solving
The whole investigation on one page — background, current condition, target, root cause, countermeasures, and a built-in action plan. The format leadership trusts.
Is / Is Not Analysis
Before you chase causes, draw a tight boundary around the problem. Contrast where the issue is versus where it is not — the differences point straight at the cause.
8D Report
The complete 8‑Discipline workflow on one sheet — from team and containment through root cause, corrective action, and prevention. The standard for customer-facing CARs.
Pareto Analysis
Count every defect category and the chart ranks them high‑to‑low with a live cumulative line. Where it crosses 80% separates the vital few worth fixing first from the trivial many.
Branded, watermarked, and yours to use
These aren't generic worksheets. Every page is built to the Vanguard standard.
Diagonal VQP watermark
A subtle tiled Vanguard Quality Partners watermark sits behind every template, so a saved or shared PDF always shows where it came from.
Fill in your browser
Type directly into every field and box. Your entries auto-save on your device — close the tab and pick up right where you left off.
One click to PDF
Hit Save as PDF for a clean, print-ready copy — title block, branding, and watermark intact — ready to file or send to a customer.