In general

RCA Rt is a methodology used to prevent re-occurring equipment and process failures. By using RCA Rt, your organization will be more productive and cost effective. RCA Rt is a powerful productivity improvement tool supported by easy to use software. It teaches effective problem definition, data gathering, data analysis and how to find creative and constructive solutions that work.

Specifically

Problems occur everyday. Different problems have different levels of complexity. Some problems are easy to solve while others require significant effort. Some problems are very important and their solution demands significant effort and cost, while in other complex but low risk cases the cost of a complete solution cannot be justified. Remember that there are costs involved in solving problems and in a pragmatic world it may be that we must settle with ensuring that a problem does not re-occur without fully understanding all of the fine detail.

RCA Rt provides a simple approach to find solutions to these problems. To consider how important they are and apply appropriate levels of effort in the investigation.

RCA Rt recommends that in the first instance a simple "5 Why" process should be used. This simple process is very powerful and quite often leads immediately to the solution.

A review of "Risk" should be made as part of this 5 Why process to help decide whether further investigation is required. If the 5 Why process has not led to a satisfactory solution and the risk level justifies the work then a more intensive investigation is required. If the risk level is at a sufficiently high level then the solution from the 5 Why process, even if it seems to be correct, should be checked using a more thorough process to ensure that risks are properly managed.

Click here to see an example of a 5 Why and a risk analysis.

If the 5 Why process does not yield a suitable solution, or the risk analysis indicts that a stronger process is required, then the full RCA Rt process should be used.

The full RCA Rt process helps individuals or teams work through three important phases;

1. Focus - Effective problem definition

2. Find courses - Data analysis

3. Fix forever - Ensuring effective solutions

Click here to see an example where the risk analysis requires more work than a simple 5 Why and how RCA Rt reveals important new information.