Root cause analysis (RCA) was developed by manufacturers in the 1950s to better understand industrial events. The goal is, as the title suggests, to identify the primary, or “root,” cause of the problem under analysis. One of the first users of this technique was Toyota and is used still today, who famously used the “5 whys” technique. By asking “why” at least five times during the investigation of a breakdown or undesired event, quality personnel are forced to drill down layer by layer to understand progressively more fundamental root cause(s). [1]
Now, root cause analysis courses are used across many industries to improve their quality assurance. Root cause analysis training teaches the standard process of:
- Identifying a problem
- Containing & analyzing the problem
- Defining the root cause
- Defining and implementing the actions required to eliminate the root cause
- Validating that the corrective action prevented recurrence of problem [2]
Through a root cause analysis course, businesses can benefit by:
- Solving real-world problems
- Lowering operational costs
- Making workplaces safer
- Providing an organizational knowledge repository
- Implementing effective & permanent solutions
A root cause analysis training can also be used to analyze various activities of an organization, including:
- Quality control
- Failure in maintenance
- Process of system
- Risk and change management
If you are ready to learn the root cause analysis methods, sign up for our on-site root cause analysis and corrective action course! You will be provided with a 7-step corrective action checklist that will assist you long after the root cause analysis training is complete.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/root-cause-analysis
- https://swanafl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Benefits-of-Root-Cause-Analysis-2019-Copy-Autosaved.pdf