Root Cause Analysis Info

Selecting ThinkReliability's Approach to Root Cause Analysis

• Simple and Effective
  The number one comment we receive from our clients is that the Cause Mapping approach is the simplest most effective method of root cause analysis that they have seen. Our clients are either establishing their first problem investigation process, refining their current approach or they’re changing from their current method that has gone unused because it’s proven too complicated or too confusing.
• Intuitive Systems Approach
  Cause Mapping provides an easy to understand visual map of the analysis for any type of problem. It improves the way individuals and groups capture and share information within an organization. Most organizations mistakenly try to find the single “root cause” of a problem instead looking for the causes of the incident so that the best solutions can be selected.
• Ease of Documentation
  An incident can easily be captured as a Cause Map using pencil and paper. With a group an issue can be captured on chart paper or a white board using self stick notes. An incident can also be captured in an electronic format using common PC software tools such as Microsoft Excel. We teach people how to conduct and document a thorough analysis in the most effective format depending on the incident and tools available to them. There is not software requirement for becoming an effective investigator.
• Major Problems and Day-to-Day Issues
  The cause-and-effect principle doesn’t change from problem to problem. The basic lessons of the cause-and-effect principle presented in the Cause Mapping workshop can be applied consistently across an organization on all types of problem – big or small. More detail is added when investigating a bigger issue, but the approach is the same.
• Develops a Prevention Culture
  Focusing on prevention, not blame is fundamental to the ThinkReliability approach and it’s one of the easiest concepts to immediately get buy-in from the people that are actually performing the work. Our approach of focusing on prevention with clearly defined work processes actually raises accountability within an organization. Blame discourages people from coming forward and encourages people to keep quiet.