A root cause is defined as a factor that caused a nonconformance and should be permanently eliminated through process improvement. The root cause is the core issue—the highest-level cause—that sets in motion the entire cause-and-effect reaction that ultimately leads to the problem(s).
Most of the clients we work with cite the ability to problem solve effectively as one of their major issues and skill gaps.
Root cause analysis or problem-solving is defined as a collective term that describes a wide range of approaches, tools, and techniques used to uncover the causes of problems. Some problem-solving approaches are geared more toward identifying true root causes than others, some are more general problem-solving techniques, and others simply offer support for the core activity of root cause analysis.
Finding and developing effective solutions to problems is the best way to ensure that problems, once solved, stay solved. The root-cause tools presented will help people dig beyond the typical initial answers and get to the true cause of a problem.
Join DVIRC’s Director of Continuous Improvement, Alan Shell to learn how to perform true root cause analysis and embed these tools into your everyday processes.
