Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis is a technique that helps guide people to discover and understand the initiating cause(s) of a problem, with the goal of determining missing or inadequately applied controls that will prevent recurrence

• True

• False

The 5 WHYs can be used individually or as a part of the C&E diagram

• True

• False

All these are applications of Root Cause Analysis except:

• Find the cause of accidents and health incidents

• Find the cause of defects in a manufacturing line

• Find the cause of product returns in a retail shop

• Find the cause of increase in any organization

What is the primary goal of using RCA?

• Analyze problems or events to identify and develop actions for preventing recurrence 

• Identify barriers and the causes of problems

• Develop a logical approach to problem-solving

• Identify current and future needs for organizational improvement.

One of the benefits of 5 WHYs is that it helps to visually display the many potential causes for a specific problem or effect

• True

• False

Its purpose is to show relative significance of the identified root causes.

• 5 WHYs

• Cause and Effect Diagram

• Pareto Chart

Its purpose is to capture the causal relationship between cause and effect and to stratify the causes into meaningful groupings

• 5 WHYs

• Cause and Effect Diagram

• Pareto Chart

It is defined as the "evil at the bottom" that sets in motion the entire cause-and-effect chain causing the problem (s)

• Symptoms

• Root Cause

• The problem

• Causes

A perceived gap between the existing state and a desired state, or a deviation from a norm, standard, or status quo.

• Symptoms

• Root Cause

• The problem

• Causes

It is a simple technique for prioritizing possible changes by identifying the problems that will be resolved by making these changes.

• 5 WHYs

• Cause and Effect Diagram

• Pareto Analysis