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Root Cause Analysis |
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| What is RCA?
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What is Root Cause Analysis?
Synopsis: Root cause analysis is a generic term used commonly to refer to structured problem solving within organizations. REASON® Root Cause Analysis is most accurately described as a business-process-oriented Root Cause Analysis system. From a REASON perspective, a root cause of an operations problem can best be described and defined as the lack of an adequate business process. Thus, root causes reflect risk and the lack of operations control. Results of root cause analyses should directly link root causes to specific systemic business process solutions. Business processes are the designed ways within an organization through which everything gets done: formally or informally, effectively or ineffectively, safely or unsafely, efficiently or inefficiently. Business processes are the only means by which an organization can manage and focus its activities in the direction of quality and efficiency. When any unwanted event occurs, it is because there were business processes missing, or ill-suited, or unsupported that either generated or allowed the event to occur. In the final analysis, regardless of what change is to be made within the organization in order to deal with an operations problem, whether it is a human performance issue, or a facility issue, or an operations issue, the solution pathway for an organization is always to identify and remedy the business process that governs the activity, so that a change can be made that will not only correct the problem at hand, but also establish a systemic organizational control to avoid recurrence. Without this business process perspective to unify the root cause analysis process, each ‘flavor’ of cause that is associated with a problem can become its own separate category and focus for root cause investigation. Accordingly, there are human factors-styled root cause analyses, barrier root cause analyses, change, cause-and-effect, energy flow, and fault root cause analyses; in fact, without the unifying structure of a business process to link the different kinds of causes into some logical ordered system, there can be as many types of root cause analysis as there are categories of causes. This helps to explain why there are so many seeming similar but differently labeled root cause analysis approaches. The unique ability to look for solutions within a single analysis process that encompass all of the different categories of causes present within a business process is what sets REASON® Root Cause Analysis apart. Understanding the particular function and intent of each factor within a specific business process provides enhanced capabilities in root cause solution discovery, analysis, trending, and decision support. (This content is also available in a medium and high detail version.) For more information that can help you cost-effectively establish and deploy a meaningful root cause analysis system, contact DECISION systems, inc. (903) 236-9973 or email dsi@rootcause.com Copyright 2004 © DECISION systems, inc. All Rights Reserved |
