1 Determining Root Cause 1

Determining the Root

Cause of a Problem
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2 Determining Root Cause 2
Why Determine Root Cause?

Prevent problems from recurring

Reduce possible injury to personnel

Reduce rework and scrap

Increase competitiveness

Promote happy customers and stockholders

Ultimately, reduce cost and save money
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3 Determining Root Cause 3
Look Beyond the Obvious
Invariably, the root cause of a
problem is not the initial reaction
or response.
It is not just restating the Finding
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4 Determining Root Cause 4
Often the Stated Root Cause
is the Quick, but Incorrect Answer
For example, a normal response is:
Equipment Failure
Human Error


Initial response is usually the symptom, not
the root cause of the problem. This is why
Root Cause Analysis is a very useful and
productive tool.
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5 Determining Root Cause 5
Most Times Root Cause
Turns Out to be Much More
Such as:

Process or program failure
System or organization failure
Poorly written work instructions
Lack of training
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6 Determining Root Cause 6
What is Root Cause Analysis?

Root Cause Analysis is an in-depth
process or technique for identifying the
most basic factor(s) underlying a
variation in performance (problem).

Focus is on systems and processes
Focus is not on individuals
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7 Determining Root Cause 7
When Should Root Cause
Analysis be Performed?
Significant or consequential events
Repetitive human errors are occurring
during a specific process
Repetitive equipment failures associated
with a specific process
Performance is generally below desired
standard
May be SCAR or CPAR (NGNN) driven
Repetitive VIRs
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8 Determining Root Cause 8
How to Determine the Real
Root Cause?
Assign the task to a person (team if necessary)
knowledgeable of the systems and processes involved

Define the problem

Collect and analyze facts and data

Develop theories and possible causes - there may be
multiple causes that are interrelated

Systematically reduce the possible theories and possible
causes using the facts
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9 Determining Root Cause 9
How to Determine the Real
Root Cause? (continued)
Develop possible solutions

Define and implement an action plan (e.g., improve
communication, revise processes or procedures or work
instructions, perform additional training, etc.)

Monitor and assess results of the action plan for
appropriateness and effectiveness

Repeat analysis if problem persists- if it persists, did we
get to the root cause?

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10 Determining Root Cause 10
Useful Tools For
Determining Root Cause are:
The 5 Whys
Pareto Analysis (Vital Few, Trivial Many)
Brainstorming
Flow Charts / Process Mapping
Cause and Effect Diagram
Tree Diagram
Benchmarking (after Root Cause is found)

Some tools are more complex than others
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11 Determining Root Cause 11
Example of Five Whys for Root
Cause Analysis
Problem - Flat Tire

Why? Nails on garage floor
Why? Box of nails on shelf split open
Why? Box got wet
Why? Rain thru hole in garage roof
Why? Roof shingles are missing

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12 Determining Root Cause 12
Pareto Analysis
Count 14 14 11 9 7 7 3 3 3 3 162 2 2 1 5 13934 20 19 19 15 15
Percent 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 32 0 0 0 1 27 7 4 4 4 3 3
Cum % 86 89 91 93 94 96 96 97 97 98 32 98 99 99100 5966 70 74 78 80 83
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13 Determining Root Cause 13
Cause and Effect Diagram
(Fishbone/Ishikawa Diagrams)
EFFECT
CAUSES (METHODS)
EFFECT (RESULTS)
Four Ms Model
MAN/WOMAN METHODS
MATERIALS MACHINERY
OTHER
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14 Determining Root Cause 14
Cause and Effect Diagram
Loading My Computer
MAN/WOMAN
METHODS
MATERIALS MACHINERY
OTHER
Cannot
Load
Softwar
e on PC
Inserted CD Wrong
Instructions are Wrong
Not Enough
Free Memory
Inadequate System
Graphics Card Incompatible
Hard Disk Crashed
Not Following
Instructions
Cannot Answer Prompt
Question
Brain Fade
CD Missing
Wrong Type CD
Bad CD
Power Interruption
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15 Determining Root Cause 15
Tree Diagram
Result Cause/Result Cause/Result Cause
Result
Primary
Causes
Secondary
Causes
Tertiary
Causes
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16 Determining Root Cause 16
Tree Diagram
Poor Safety
Performance
Stale/Tired
Approaches
Inappropriate
Behaviors
Lack of
Employee
Attention
Lack of Models/
Benchmarks
No Outside Input
Research Not
Funded
No Money for Reference
Materials
No Funds for
Classes
No Consequences
Infrequent
Inspections
Inadequate
Training
No Publicity
Lack of Sr.
Management Attention
No Performance
Reviews
No Special Subject
Classes
Lack of Regular
Safety Meetings
Zero Written Safety
Messages
No Injury Cost
Tracking
Result Cause/Result Cause/Result Cause
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17 Determining Root Cause 17
Bench Marking
Benchmarking: What is it?

"... benchmarking ...[is] ...'the process of identifying, understanding, and
adapting outstanding practices and processes from organizations
anywhere in the world to help your organization improve its
performance.'"
American Productivity & Quality Center

"... benchmarking ...[is]... an on-going outreach activity; the goal of the
outreach is identification of best operating practices that, when
implemented, produce superior performance."
Bogan and English, Benchmarking for Best Practices


Benchmark refers to a measure of best practice performance.
Benchmarking refers to the search for the best practices that yields the
benchmark performance, with emphasis on how you can apply the
process to achieve superior results.
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18 Determining Root Cause 18
Bench Marking
All process improvement efforts require a sound
methodology and implementation, and benchmarking
is no different. You need to:

Identify benchmarking partners
Select a benchmarking approach
Gather information (research, surveys, benchmarking
visits)
Distill the learning
Select ideas to implement
Pilot
Implement
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19 Determining Root Cause 19
Common Errors of Root Cause
Looking for a single cause- often 2 or 3
which contribute and may be interacting
Ending analysis at a symptomatic cause
Assigning as the cause of the problem the
why event that preceded the real cause
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20 Determining Root Cause 20
Successful application of the
analysis and determination of
the Root Cause should result
in elimination of the problem

and create Happy Campers!
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21 Determining Root Cause 21
Summary:
Why determine Root Cause?
What Is Root Cause Analysis?
When Should Root Cause Analysis be
performed?
How to determine Root Cause
Useful Tools to Determine Root Cause
1. Five Whys
2. Pareto Analysis
3. Cause and Effect Diagram
4. Tree Diagram
5. Brainstorming
Common Errors of Root Cause
Where can I learn more?
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22 Determining Root Cause 22
Where Can I Learn More?
Solving a Problem & Getting Along: Toward the Effective Root Cause
Analysis, Khaimovich,1998.

The Quality Freeway, Goodman, 1990

Potential Failure Modes & Effects Analysis: A Business Perspective, Hatty
& Owens, 1994

In Search of Root Cause, Dew, 1991

Solving Chronic Quality Problems, Meyer, 1990

The Tools of Quality, Part II: Cause and Effect Diagrams, Sarazen, 1990

Root Cause Analysis: A Tool for Total Quality Management, Wilson, Dell &
Anderson, 1993
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