Root Cause Analysis
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==Conducting an effective root cause analysis== | ==Conducting an effective root cause analysis== | ||
| + | There is not a specific correct way of performing a root cause analysis, as there are many different techniques and strategies that can be used. In this chapter, the most common and broadly used techniques will be covered. | ||
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| + | === Fishbone Diagram === | ||
'''Performing Root Cause Analyses for Successes''' | '''Performing Root Cause Analyses for Successes''' | ||
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==Challenges== | ==Challenges== | ||
Revision as of 12:44, 25 February 2022
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a method of problem solving that can be used in a project, program or portfolio (PPP) to identify root causes of faults and problems in order to identify appropriate solutions. It is broadly used in several industries, among the health care, infrastructure and information technology industry. A Root Cause Analysis supposes that it is more effective to go in-depth of occurring problems, so that the underlaying issue can be treated, instead of only treating ad hoc symptoms. Root Cause Analyses can be performed with several different methodologies, principles and techniques together to identify the root causes of a fault or problem. The goal is to find out where processes or systems failed or caused an issue in the first place.
A Root Cause Analysis can be divided into four steps:
- Identify – What went wrong? Do not look at symptoms of the fault or problem, but discover what specifically went wrong and caused the fault or problem.
- Establish a timeline – Establish a timeline that specifies how the situation went from normal to problematical.
- Distinguish root causes from other casual factors – Sort out factors that actually made the failure or problem occur. This can e.g. be done using event correlation.
- Establish an overview between the root cause and the problem – Document how the root cause caused the fault or problem, this can be done e.g. with a casual graph.
Contents |
Introduction
To be able to fully understand what a root cause analysis is and what it is used for, it is easier to relate it to something we are entirely acknowledged with. If your arm hurts considerably after an accident, you will go to the doctor to find the root cause of your pain. Also, if your computer stops working, you will try to find the root cause of its malfunction, either by yourself or by a professional technician. For these examples, a simple remedy could be found for the symptoms. To stop your arm from hurting, you could put ice on it to relive pain. To get work done with a broken computer, you could use your phone or tablet instead. Unfortunately, this would only consider the symptoms and not the underlaying issue that caused the problem. The injured arm may need surgery to entirely recover from the sustained injury, and the broken computer may need to have a new battery to function again. The best way to solve a fault or problem would therefore be to perform a Root Cause Analysis. By doing this, the exact root cause can be found so that the correct management of the fault or problem will be accomplished.
In this article, the Root Cause Analysis will be defined (**********************)
Goals and Benefits of using a Root Cause Analysis
Related to the root cause analysis, there are three goals that should be realised. The first one being to discover the root cause of a failure or problem. The second one is to develop an understanding on how to fix and learn from the underlaying issues relating the root cause. The third and final one is to apply the findings from the root cause analysis, to systematically prevent future issues or problems. Root cause analysis can be used for increasing the productiveness in several core processes as well, with the goal to prevent problems in the future. Instead of replacing punctured bike tires on rental bikes, puncture proof tires could be installed instead if the problem persists.
General Principles
To achieve an effective root cause analysis process, there are some general principles that should be taken into consideration. These principles will increase the quality of the analysis and will help the analysis get trust from clients and stakeholders.
- Consider to actually correct and remedy the root causes, not only the symptoms.
- While performing the root cause analysis, also remember to treat symptoms for short term fixing.
- Avoid focus on who was responsible of the failure or problem, instead focus on how and why.
- Find and document ways to prevent similar root causes in the future.
- When finding root causes, provide cause-effect evidence to back it up.
- Often there are multiple root causes, therefore search for several.
As it can be understood from the principles above, it is important to take a comprehensive and holistic approach in this type of analysis. As the root causes have no importance if no action is taken afterwards, it should be strived to provide information and context that can solve the failure or problem.
Conducting an effective root cause analysis
There is not a specific correct way of performing a root cause analysis, as there are many different techniques and strategies that can be used. In this chapter, the most common and broadly used techniques will be covered.
Fishbone Diagram
Performing Root Cause Analyses for Successes
