Root cause analysis (RCA)

Abstract

While managing programs or projects we face many challenges which affect the schedule or quality of the project. For the elimination of such similar future challenges, it is important to identify from where the problem has started (Root Cause). Root cause analysis is a method to identify the source of the problem and to know how it has happened and how to prevent such problems in future. Multiple industries like Construction, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, Information technology uses this method for successful identification of causes for the problem. RCA also gives the scope to identify the gaps in the existing process, reduce the cost of production or increase production. In this article, we will learn about What is root cause analysis and its importance, when and how RCA has to be done and methods of doing root cause analysis.

Introduction

Root cause illustration

Root cause analysis (RCA) is an important aspect of a broad problem-solving process and continuous improvement. A root cause is a part that contributed to a failure and should be removed completely using process improvement.The root cause is the most fundamental problem—the most fundamental reason—that puts in motion the a whole cause-and-effect that leads to the problem. Root cause analysis alone would not give any results, it has to be used as part of a bigger problem-solving effort aimed at improving quality. Organization uses continuous improvement method to remove that problem completely .

Root cause analysis refers to a variety of methodologies, tools, and procedures used to identify the root causes of issues. Some RCA approaches are more focused toward finding actual root causes than others, while others are more broad problem-solving procedures, but others simply provide support for the root cause analysis core activity.[1]

Process of Root cause Analysis

RCA Process flow

Below table shows purpose, output ,Success factors and tools that has to be used in each step.

Step	Purpose	Output	Success Factors	Tools
Define the Event	Know the Problem	Problem statement	Being Specific and objective	Interview
	Come up with the starting point	RCA Team	No assumptions on what created the problem	Gantt Chart
	Create a RCA team	Project plan	Team balance	Survey
	Design a project plan		Planning the Schedule considers goals and time.
Find cause	Know the Problem better	List potential causes for the problem	No filtering or prioritizing the Potential causes	Flowchart
	Bigger picture on the possible causes		Creative thinking	High-Level Mapping
	Make sure that everyone in the team knows whats happening about the problem		Deep dive into the data and evidence of the problem	Brainstorming
				Fishbone diagram
Find the root cause	Detect the real root cause for the problem	Interpretation of the Root Cause	Having a calm and logical mindset	Cause and event tree
			Don’t conclude with the root cause too quickly	Five Whys
				Histogram
				Pareto analysis
Find solutions	Plan a feasible solution to eliminate the root cause	Explanation of solutions	Including those with idea with possible solutions	Flowchart
			Including those who will be impacted with possible solutions	Brainstorming
			Ownership for the needed changes	The "Why Not" Principles
				Survey/Interviews
Take Action	Executing the solutions	Applied solutions	Able to push beyond	Force Field Analysis
	Focusing on long term changes		Including those who will have to modify the work structure	Impact effort matrix
Measure and assess	Evaluate the change results	Confirming the right solutions to the problem	Stay critical in the evaluating the solutions	Pilot study
	Evaluate the future change requirement	Report	Don’t be in hurry to complete the project and submit the report
	Complete the RCA project