1. From symptom to problem
Improving a process begins by distinguishing three elements: the observable signal, the problem that must be described, and its possible causes. A recurring delay is a signal; it does not yet explain why the delay occurs. The initial problem statement needs concrete information: where the issue appears, how often it happens, when it began, and what impact it produces. Only then should possible causes be proposed. This separation prevents a team from selecting a solution before it understands the situation it is trying to improve.