Root Cause Analysis

RCA of RC(F)A

When you first start a Root Cause Analysis , it is like starting out to solve a new puzzle. The pieces of information as you begin to sort through the process seem jumbled, out of order, and seemingly in total disarray.

The challenge is to try and put all the pieces of the puzzle into play, and get them on the board. As we collect evidence, and take photographs, meet with witnesses to get their statements, we can begin to under stand how the puzzle might take shape.  Even as we gather the corners and the edges to frame up the limits of the task, we still have just begun to complete the work needed to truly understand what cause(s) were at play.

One of the challenges as we begin to look through the emerging picture is to just jump to a fast conclusion,  as we think we can see enough of the problem to solve it, but this is like peering through the morning mist, and trying to see what the mid afternoon tea weather "might" look like.

Staying the course and putting aside the temptation to jump to conclusions is paramount to solving the root cause(s), and the process of putting together the puzzle must continue. The challenges continue as we begin to refine the process, and begin to realize there are no silver bullets and often we have multiple roots and causes.

The confluence of many roots leads us to understand there is not ONE root cause, but there can be many, and often are several root problems just like there is never just one root of a plant.

The key to a Root Cause Analysis is to understand that there is most likely more than ONE root cause, and that we need to continue to dig into the dirt to look for more. When we understand these simple concepts, we can progress forward more successfully.

Using a simple method like Apollo Root Cause Analysis (ARCA) we can drill into one or many roots to understand the real causes.