OUTCOME and PROCESS Problem Statement:

The process of filling a five gallon bucket with kindling in my backyard for indoor fires is taking too long and yielding pieces that are too thick. This has taken away from important work and family time, and has made it difficult for some users to start a fire. These factors are causing stress around the home. The problem started around March 2021 when we rearranged the basement for two home offices. It currently takes 7 to 15 minutes to produce one bucket of wood, but it should not take more than 4 minutes. Pieces frequently exceed the maximum thickness of 3 inches.

OUTCOME Goal Statement:

Decrease maximum thickness of kindling from over 3 inches to 3 inches or less by December, 2021.

PROCESS Goal Statement:

Decrease time to make a five gallon bucket of kindling from 7 to 15 minutes to 4 minutes or less by December, 2021.

7) Brainstorm reasons for negative impacts on OUTCOMES. Reference the previously established Outcome Problem and Goal Statements. Some of the reasons may be directly evident from the process map and spaghetti diagram above, but other reasons will not be explicitly listed in either. These reasons must be organized and categorized using a cause and effect diagram.