Root Cause Analysis

Description

Not using root cause analysis to get to the heart recurring problems costs you time and money. Unresolved problems do more than aggravate. They can increase costs, lower quality, and drive customers away. Plus, quality management processes, such as ISO 9001, require organizations to have a corrective and preventive action process in place. Root cause analysis is integral to the success of any corrective action or problem-solving process.

Unfortunately, root cause analysis is an often maligned, misunderstood, and misapplied process. Instead of viewing root cause analysis as an opportunity for improvement, many see it only as an admission that things have gone wrong. Root cause analysis should be seen as an opportunity, not a chore.

This practical guide offers proven techniques for using root cause analysis in your organization. Inside you’ll find:

• What root cause analysis is
• When (and when not) to use root cause analysis
• Who should participate in the root cause analysis process
• How to construct a root cause analysis checklist
• Examples of how a well-run root cause analysis process works
• And much more!

About the Author
Denise Robitaille is the author of numerous books on various quality topics. She is an internationally recognized speaker who brings years of experience in business and industry to her work in the quality profession. Denise is an active member member of the U.S. TAG to ISO/TC 176, the committee responsible for updating the ISO 9000 family of standards. She is also a Certus Professional Certification certified QMS lead auditor, an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor, and a senior member of ASQ.

As the principal of Robitaille Associates she has helped numerous companies in diverse fields to achieve ISO 9001 registration and to improve their quality management systems. She has conducted training courses for thousands of individuals on such topics as corrective action, management review, auditing, document control and implementing ISO 9001.

Denise’s books include: The Corrective Action Handbook, The Management Review Handbook, The Preventive Action Handbook, Root Cause Analysis: Basic Tools and Techniques, Document Control, and Managing Supplier-Related Processes.