How does the root cause analysis method work

Posted by Taggart on October 8th, 2018

The evil at the deepest recess of a problem is what a root cause is. To put in simple terms, a root cause in a business process challenge is a cause that results in non-conformance and if the process needs to be improved, the root cause has to be permanently eliminated. This is what the root cause analysis method is all about. A lot of data analysis is done as part of root cause analysis and you will be able to manage data when you go through a Minitab training.

Doing root cause analysis is at the core of any Six Sigma project. First of all, a business process challenge is identified and the next scope of work starts. For the simplest projects, the root cause analysis can be done by a single person. But for any Six Sigma project, a team is always recommended because the challenges can be tackled from different angles and the outcome is almost always better. Also, those who are tasked with the elimination of the root cause should be prominent members of the project team because they need to have decision-making authority.

The process
The team that is formed to conduct the root cause analysis should have members from the business area where the problem lies. The team should ideally consist of a line manager, an internal customer who is associated with the process where the problems have been identified and a quality improvement professional. Depending on the extent of the problem at hand, others should also be made part of the team. If the problem is complex, a black belt should lead the project. And if an organizational process improvement has been undertaken, a master black belt should lead the team as a mentor.

Typically, the root cause analysis method lasts for about two months. There is an even distribution of time for defining and understanding the issues, brainstorming within the team to identify the probable causes, analyzing the various causes and their effects and devising solutions to the issues. The team meets at regular intervals (could be up to two to three times a week) for short periods of up to two hours. The agenda may or may not be defined because a lot of talking and listening happens. Everyone in the team is given specific tasks - someone has to gather data, someone has to analyze the data and someone has to control the meetings and so on. Once the solution has been identified, it is implemented and monitored and a control mechanism is put in place.

Minitab training plays a massive role in the process that has been described above. Minitab is a statistical package that analyzes data. So, the team member(s) who have been tasked with data analysis find it immensely useful. The data analysis through Minitab throws up trends and patterns and graphs and helps in process improvement.

With a professional training institution as your partner for Six Sigma training, your nominated employees will get the right grasp of RCA and Minitab.

It is the root cause analysis method that helps improve business process issues.RCA is further aided by Minitab and project team members also need to go through Minitab training.