Root Cause Analysis Training
Root cause analysis (RCA) is often used in proactive management to identify the root cause of a problem — the factor that is the main cause of a problem.
RCA is commonly broken into four steps:
- Identify and describe the problem clearly
- Establish a timeline from the normal situation up to the time the problem occurred
- Distinguish between the root cause and other causal factors
- Establish a causal graph between the root cause and the problem
RCA generally serves as input to a remediation process whereby corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) are taken to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
Root cause analysis can be traced to the broader field of total quality management (TQM). TQM has developed in different directions, including a number of problem analysis, problem-solving and root cause analysis.
Root cause analysis is part of a more general problem-solving process and an integral part of continuous improvement. Because of this, root cause analysis is one of the core building blocks in an organization’s continuous improvement efforts.
There are many approaches to root cause analysis, such as:
- Change analysis — This approach is applicable to situations where a system’s performance has shifted significantly. It explores changes made in people, equipment, information, and more that may have contributed to the change in performance.
- Barrier analysis — This technique focuses on what controls are in place in the process to either prevent or detect a problem, and which might have failed.
- Management oversight and risk tree analysis —One aspect of this approach is the use of a tree diagram to look at what occurred and why it might have occurred.
- Kepner-Tregoe problem-solving and Decision Making — This model provides four distinct phases for resolving problems: Situation analysis, Problem analysis, Solution analysis, Potential problem analysis.
Unlike other methodologies, root cause analysis (RCA) is generally more successful when there’s a small, focused team involved in looking for answers.
It’s not unusual to have a supervisor lead an RCA team composed of communication staff, research staff and personnel from the department or departments being affected by a serious problem.
Organizations often mistakenly use the term “root cause” to identify one main cause. Focusing on a single cause can limit the solutions set, resulting in the exclusion of viable solutions.
A Cause Map provides a simple visual explanation of all the causes that contributed to the incident. The root is the system of causes that reveals all of the different options for solutions. Consequently this yields multiple opportunities to mitigate risk and prevent problems.
It’s important to note that RCA is not a one-size-fits-all methodology. There are many different tools, processes and philosophies of accomplishing RCA, which was born out of a need to analyze various enterprise activities such as:
- Accident analysis and occupational safety and health
- Quality control
- Efficient business process
- Engineering and maintenance failure analysis
- Various systems-based processes, including change management and risk management
Root Cause Analysis Training Courses by Tonex
Tonex offers more than 30 courses in Root Cause Analysis. Many of the courses focus on the fundamentals of Root Cause Analysis tailored to specific user groups, such as:
- Root Cause Analysis Training for Engineers
- Root Cause Analysis Training for Non-Engineers
- Root Cause Analysis Training for Healthcare Professionals
- Root Cause Analysis Training for Supervisors
- Root Cause Analysis Training for Beginners.
Other Root Cause Analysis courses focus more on specific training topics such as the 2-day Statistical Process Control Training course or the 2-day Design Verification Plan & Report Training course.
There are even classes where the focus is on particular tools used in Root Cause Analysis:
The courses cover a wide range of topics including how RCA can be helpful in such areas as:
- Major accidents
- Everyday incidents
- Minor near-misses
- Human errors
- Maintenance problems
- Medical mistakes
- Productivity issues
- Manufacturing mistakes
- Environmental releases
- Risk analysis, risk mapping
Participants also learn how RCA can be beneficial for:
- Identifying the burdens and the root causes of problems in order to coming up with permanent solutions
- Enabling to establish a rational methodology to problem-solving, by utilizing the available data
- Exploring the current and future needs for organizational improvement
- Developing repeatable, step-by-step protocols, in which one process verifies the results of another.
The various RCA approaches are also covered. Attendees learn about:
–The “5-Whys” Analysis
–Barrier Analysis
–Change Analysis
–Causal Factor Tree Analysis
–Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
–Fishbone Diagram or Ishikawa Diagram
–Pareto Analysis
–Fault Tree Analysis
Why Choose Tonex?
Tonex has been conducting Root Cause Analysis training throughout the world since 1993. The world class instructors at Tonex have trained engineers, managers and technicians on how to effectively solve problems using a variety of Root Cause Analysis tools and techniques.
We have clients from organizations, agencies and companies large and small. Many of our customers are repeat clients. One reason is that at Tonex we tailor courses to your group’s specific needs.
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Root Cause Analysis Training