QIC Guru

Root Cause Analysis seeks to identify the origin of a problem. It uses a specific set of steps, with associated tools, to find the primary cause of the problem, so that you can:

1. Define what happened.
2. Define why it happened.
3. Determine what to do to reduce the likelihood that it will happen again.

Root Cause Analysis has five identifiable steps.

Step One: Define the Problem

Step Two: Collect Data

Step Three: Identify Possible Causal Factors

Step Four: Identify the Root Cause(s)

Step Five: Recommend and Implement Solutions

As an analytical tool, Root Cause Analysis is an essential way to perform a comprehensive, system-wide review of significant problems as well as the events and factors leading to them.