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Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

What is Root Cause Analysis?

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach used to identify the underlying cause(s) of a problem, failure, or defect. Instead of just addressing symptoms, RCA aims to find and eliminate the fundamental reason the issue occurred, preventing recurrence.

Key Principles of RCA

  1. Focus on Cause, Not Just Symptoms – RCA seeks to uncover why a problem happened, not just how it manifested.
  2. Data-Driven Approach – Uses evidence, facts, and logic rather than assumptions.
  3. Systematic and Structured – Follows a step-by-step methodology.
  4. Prevention-Oriented – Aims to implement corrective actions to avoid future occurrences.

RCA Process Steps

  1. Identify the Problem – Define the issue clearly (what happened, where, when, and how).
  2. Gather Data and Evidence – Collect relevant information, logs, reports, witness statements, etc.
  3. Determine Root Causes – Use analytical techniques to trace the issue back to its origin.
  4. Implement Corrective Actions – Develop solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms.
  5. Monitor and Verify Effectiveness – Ensure implemented actions prevent recurrence.

Common RCA Techniques

Ishiwaka (fishbone) diagram

  • 5 Whys – Repeatedly ask "Why?" to dig deeper into the root cause.
  • Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa) – Categorizes causes into groups (e.g., People, Process, Equipment).
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) – Evaluates potential failure points systematically.
  • Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) – Uses a logical tree structure to map out cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Pareto Analysis – Identifies the most significant causes using the 80/20 rule.

Example of RCA in Action

Problem: A website experiences frequent downtime.

  1. Why? The server crashes.
  2. Why? High CPU usage overloads the system.
  3. Why? A poorly optimized database query is running continuously.
  4. Why? A recent software update introduced inefficient indexing.
  5. Why? The update was not thoroughly tested before deployment.

Root Cause: Inadequate testing process before software updates.
Solution: Implement a robust testing protocol before deployment.

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