🔍

Facilitating RCA

How to Run Effective Root Cause Analysis

RCA can solve problems...

Or waste everyone's time in meetings that go nowhere

The difference? Facilitation.

When to Do an RCA?

⚠️

Safety incident

🌍

Environmental

⏱️

>4h downtime

🔄

3rd repeat

💰

>€10K cost

👁️

Near miss

80% is Preparation

1
Gather facts - logs, photos, statements
2
Build timeline
3
Right people (4-6)
4
Whiteboard + 2 hours

The 5-Why Method

1
Why fail?
Bearing seized
2
Why seize?
No lubrication
3
Why no lube?
Oil level low
4
Why low?
Seal leak
5
Why leak?
Wrong install → Training gap!

Facilitator Techniques

1 Vary questions

"What caused?" "What allowed?" "What would prevent?"

2 Challenge assumptions

"How do we know?" "What's the data?"

3 Fact vs opinion

"Can we check the logs?"

4 Park good ideas

Capture solutions for later

Fishbone Diagram

🔧 Machine

📋 Method

🛢️ Material

👷 Manpower

PROBLEM

Brainstorm all causes, then investigate

Avoid These Traps

❌ Stopping at the obvious

❌ Blame - redirect to systems

❌ Too many causes - prioritize 2-3

❌ Vague actions - need name + date

❌ No follow-up - schedule 30-day check

Close Strong

1

Summarize timeline

2

State root causes

3

Review actions

4

Schedule 30-day review

📋

Get the Free RCA Template

Template + checklist at

reliox.org
0:00