SIX STEPS TO APPLY ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SUCCESSFULLY

1. CLARIFY THE PROBLEM FIRST: Clear problem definitions help avoid missteps and ensure that you’re addressing the right issue
2. ENGAGE TEAM MEMBERS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS: Involve those with experience or knowledge of the process to get a fuller understanding of the issue
3. SOLVE USING TARGETED ACTIONS: Address the root causes, not just symptoms. Analyse thoroughly before applying solutions
4.UNDERSTAND
THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMS: Fixing the system flaws rather than blaming individuals will lead to long-term improvements
5. DOCUMENT AND LEARN: Ensure that lessons learned are captured and can be referred to in the future
6. IMPLEMENT ONE SOLUTION AT A TIME : Monitor the results before proceeding to the next solution.

AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES:
● JUMPING TO THE CONCLUSION WITHOUT ENOUGH DATA: Insufficient data can lead to incorrect analysis and misguided solutions
● TREATING SYMPTOMS INSTEAD OF THE REAL CAUSE: Address the root cause,not just surface- level issues
● BLAMING INDIVIDUALS INSTEAD OF FIXING SYSTEM FLAWS:
Focus on improving the system as a whole,not singling out individuals
● NOT LEARNING FROM THE PROCESS:
Document your findings to prevent repeating the same mistakes in the future
THE ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS:
The 5 whys technique is a problem solving method that identifies the root causes of an issue by repeatedly asking "why" to explore the problem in depth
● The Pareto principle (80/20…