Basic Root Cause Analysis FAQ

Basic Root Cause Analysis Frequently Asked Questions

1	What is Root Cause Analysis?

2	What is a Root Cause?

3	What kinds of problems can Root Cause Analysis be applied to?

4	What constitutes a significant problem worthy of the application of formal Root Cause Analysis techniques?

5	What is the purpose of Root Cause Analysis?

6	What is the simplest Root Cause Analysis technique?

1	Q:	What is Root Cause Analysis?
	A:	The practice of determining root causes of problems.

by codeopt at 2002-04-02 23:49:46

2	Q:	What is a Root Cause?
	A:	A fundamental cause that, if removed or corrected, would preclude the occurrence (or recurrence) of a problem.

by codeopt at 2002-04-02 23:52:06

3	Q:	What kinds of problems can Root Cause Analysis be applied to?
	A:	Root Cause Analysis can be applied to any type of problem; however, application of formal Root Cause Analysis is typically reserved for significant problems due to the intense and involved nature of the process.

by codeopt at 2002-04-02 23:59:27

What constitutes a significant problem worthy of the application of formal Root Cause Analysis techniques?

This is somewhat subjective. A few business examples where a formal Root Cause Analysis should be considered are:

1) any incident involving fatalities or significant injuries;

2) malfunctions in required equipment;

3) problems that may lead to undesirable legal and/or regulatory exposure; and

4) any problem with the potential to significantly affect profitability.

(Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.)

by codeopt at 2002-04-03 02:49:55

5	Q:	What is the purpose of Root Cause Analysis?
	A:	To understand why things go wrong so that effective corrective actions can be taken.

by codeopt at 2002-04-08 17:23:35

6	Q:	What is the simplest Root Cause Analysis technique?
	A:	A method commonly referred to as "Five Whys", consisting of asking "Why?" successively until the question cannot be answered. The number "Five" is not important in itself; it is more of a guideline than an absolute requirement. The main pitfall of this technique is that it is strictly linear, and yields only one cause for a given event.

by codeopt at 2002-06-26 05:38:50