Use 5 Whys to convert a surface return reason into a testable operational root cause.
Return reason codes are useful signals, but weak truths. The professional move is to treat them as starting points for cause finding. Start with the observed failure Do not begin with blame. Begin with the specific pattern: SKU, channel, customer segment, date range, defect type, return condition, or carrier path. Ask why toward a mechanism Each why should produce a testable explanation. 'Customers are careless' is not a mechanism. 'The product page shows US sizing while the supplier grades to EU sizing' is a mechanism. Ask where the process let it escape A strong root cause points to a control…
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