Why do our lorries never leave on time?
a walkthrough with stand-ins — a demonstration, not a finding · 15 certified links · outlined boxes are the roots · tap a claim to read it in full
Showing every action the room judged: it acts directly on 2 of the 6 root causes. It does not act directly on 4.
The induction is a video nobody watches to the end → Handovers between shifts lose key detailsThe trolleys are too small for the orders we now get → New product codes arrive without anyone being told what changedThe trolleys are too small for the orders we now get → Targets reward speed over accuracyA picker who slows down to check is beaten by one who does not → Small errors are hidden to avoid blameHandovers between shifts lose key details → The scanner and the label printer disagree about leading zerosHandovers between shifts lose key details → Nobody reconciles what left the building with what was orderedNobody has ever been thanked for catching an error → Small errors are hidden to avoid blameNobody has ever been thanked for catching an error → Returns are put back on the shelf without being checkedNobody is paid for the ten minutes it takes to do a handover properly → New product codes arrive without anyone being told what changedNobody has costed what an error actually costs us → An error is only an error if the customer noticesNobody has costed what an error actually costs us → Targets reward speed over accuracyThe system says a location is empty when a pallet is sitting in it → Data lives in three systems that disagreeTargets reward speed over accuracy → Pickers are ranked against each other on a screen by the doorThe induction is a video nobody watches to the endThe induction is a videonobody watches to the end③what the shown actions do to this root causeREDUCED BY 1 ACTIONThe trolleys are too small for the orders we now getThe trolleys are too smallfor the orders we now getwhat the shown actions do to this root causeNO ACTION ACTS ON ITDIRECTLYA picker who slows down to check is beaten by one who does notA picker who slows down tocheck is beaten by one whodoes notNobody has ever been thanked for catching an errorNobody has ever beenthanked for catching anerror①what the shown actions do to this root causeREDUCED BY 1 ACTIONNobody is paid for the ten minutes it takes to do a handover properlyNobody is paid for the tenminutes it takes to do ahandover properlyNobody has costed what an error actually costs usNobody has costed what anerror actually costs uswhat the shown actions do to this root causeNO ACTION ACTS ON ITDIRECTLYThe system says a location is empty when a pallet is sitting in itThe system says a locationis empty when a pallet issitting in itData lives in three systems that disagreeData lives in three systemsthat disagreeAn error is only an error if the customer noticesAn error is only an errorif the customer noticesReturns are put back on the shelf without being checkedReturns are put back on theshelf without being checkedTargets reward speed over accuracyTargets reward speed overaccuracywhat the shown actions do to this root causeNO ACTION ACTS ON ITDIRECTLYNew product codes arrive without anyone being told what changedNew product codes arrivewithout anyone being toldwhat changedSmall errors are hidden to avoid blameSmall errors are hidden toavoid blameHandovers between shifts lose key detailsHandovers between shiftslose key detailswhat the shown actions do to this root causeNO ACTION ACTS ON ITDIRECTLYPickers are ranked against each other on a screen by the doorPickers are ranked againsteach other on a screen bythe doorNobody reconciles what left the building with what was orderedNobody reconciles what leftthe building with what wasorderedThe scanner and the label printer disagree about leading zerosThe scanner and the labelprinter disagree aboutleading zeros
WHAT WAS PREDICTED TO FOLLOW
Each number on the map marks a root cause that action reduces.
① Publish the four worst locations and fix the racking
no prediction about this action yet
② One name per location, printed and enforced
no prediction about this action yet
③ Pay the ten minutes for a proper handover
we expect: the next shift starts knowing what the last one left
measured by: % of shifts with a completed handover
due 24 Dec 2026
guesses: the room: 78 (median of 15, spread 55 to 95)
A map from True Causes: a group’s judgement, not a measurement.