View by category
Articles: Root Cause Analysis
3 Steps and 3 Tools that Organize and Improve Your Problem Solving Capability
Basic Elements of a Comprehensive Investigation
By Mark Galley, ThinkReliability
The terms failure analysis, incident investigation, and root cause analysis are used by organizations when referring to their problem solving approach. Regardless of what it’s called there are three basic questions to every investigation: 1 - What’s the problem(s)? 2 - Why did it happen (the causes)? and 3 - What specifically should be done to prevent it.
BP/Transocean Deepwater BOP Control Systems - A Look at Reliability Issues
I suggest that everyone in Reliability read the report Deepwater BOP Control Systems - A Look at Reliability Issues attached below.
Failure Modes: A Closer Look at Ductile and Brittle Overload Fractures
Follow up to the article, "Preventing Mechanical Failures - An Introduction to Failure Mode Identification" - Feb/March 2012
Thomas Brown
Is an overload fracture ductile or brittle? This question must be answered when analyzing parts. Mitigating factors that can impact the answer to this question should be considered when analyzing a failed component.
Improving on the Fishbone Effective Cause-and-Effect Analysis
In 1950s Japan, Kaurou Ishikawa became one of the first to visually lay out the causes of a problem. His fishbone, or "Ishikawa Fishbone," helped visually capture a problem's possible causes and,ltimately, has become a standard in corporate-quality and Six-Sigma programs. It begins with a problem, then identifies possible causes by separate categories that branch off like the bones of a fish. Its categories-typically including materials, methods, machines, measurement, environment and people-can be modified to better match a particular issue.
Preventing Mechanical Failures - An Introduction to Failure Mode Identification
By Thomas Brown
Failure mode identification is often regarded as a specialized skill requiring years of study and training to master. However, it is much like vibration analysis. One does not have to be able to solve mathematics functions like Laplace transforms or Fourier series to be an excellent vibration analyst. Nor does the failure analyst have to solve linear elastic fracture mechanics problems to be effective.
Prevention or Blame? What is the goal of your Organization?
Solving problems effectively is part of being an effective organization. The individuals and groups that tackle problems in organizations today sometimes inadvertently focus on the people or departments involved rather than the specific causes of the problem. This creates an organizational culture that focuses more on blaming other groups and individuals than preventing problems from occurring.
Root Cause Failure Analysis Web Workshops
Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) has an important place in a complete maintenance program. Root Cause Failure Analysis provides the ability to identify and eliminate preventable root causes of failures.
It can be used in a wide variety of situations and like Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) there are a wide variety of technique variations.
Six Common Errors when Solving Problems
Organizations apply a variety of tools to solve problems, improve operations and increase reliability—many times without success. Why? More than likely, they make one or a combination of six common errors:
1. They focus on blame.
2. Conducting root-cause analysis, they focus on finding one “cause.”
3. They consider a problem description and problem analysis the same thing.
4. They start an investigation by trying to find the problem, instead of identifying an organization’s
goals
5. They apply “buzzwords” instead of the basic technique of cause-and-effect.
6. They use select problem-solving tools for select circumstances.
Overcoming these errors involves knowing why they happen and how to prevent them. Armed with this knowledge, both employees and managers can improve problem-solving in any organization.
The Navy’s Nuclear Work Model applied to the Concorde Crash July-2000
By Lloyd Hamilton, ThinkReliability.com
Originally presented at Reliability 2.0
This paper will discuss advantages of combining Root Cause Analysis techniques and the Navy Work Model.
Where do we end our probe in Root Cause Analysis?
by Rolly Angles, RSA, Laguna Philippines
Frequent contributor at www.maintenanceforums.com
One of the biggest confusion in an attempt to perform a thorough Root Cause Analysis is understanding how deep should we pursue our analysis or simply stated, where do we stop our investigation in performing a Root Cause Analysis? Going to deep will lead us to the bible, Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is a root of all evil and going to shallow will allow the problem to recur again and again.

- Things To Think About and Do in 2012
- Uptime Magazine - April/May 2012 Index
- Reliability Polls and Quizzes
- Coaching Employees Through Change
- Book Review: Handbook to Achieve Operational Excellence
- Integrating Vibration and Temperature Measurements in Condition Monitoring
- Operator-Driven Reliability Best Practices Series: “Leadership Wanted”
(2) - When Decibels Aren’t Enough
- Strong Predictive Maintenance Program Boosts UPTIME to Meet Growing Demand for Recycled Papers
- Failure Modes: A Closer Look at Ductile and Brittle Overload Fractures
- Reliability Polls and Quizzes
- Things To Think About and Do in 2012
- Uptime Magazine - April/May 2012 Index
- Electric Motor Bearing Greasing Basics
(5) - Asset Management: concepts and practices
(8) - CBM 2011 Video Proceedings
(2) - Maintenance of Hydraulic Systems
(2) - The 5S Method of Improvement - Enhancing Safety, Productivity and Culture
- Reliabilityweb.com 100 Top Web Sites
- Aerial Infrared – An Asset Management Tool for District Heating System Operators

- Alignment and Balancing
- Asset Management
- CMMS and EAM
- Green Reliability
- Human Asset Management
- Infrared Thermal Imaging
- KPIs - Reliability Performance Metrics
- Lean Maintenance
- Lubrication
- Maintenance Management
- Motor and Power System Testing
- MRO - Spares Management
- Oil and Fluid Analysis
- Planning and Scheduling
- PM Optimization
- Predictive Maintenance and Condition Monitoring Management
- Reliability-Centered Maintenance
- Reliability Engineering
- Reliability Leadership
- Root Cause Analysis
- Shutdowns and Turnarounds
- Total Productive Maintenance (Asset Care)
- Training
- Ultrasonics
- Vibration Analysis

- IR Windows: Compare and Save with Exiscan
- Join The Association For Maintenance Professionals
- New AT33IND Perfect for QC & Troubleshooting
- Commtest - Affordable Vibration Analysis
- Request Your Des-Case Complimentary Breather Now
- Motor Testing Books
- Reliability Engineering Services
- GPAllied Inspired Training: Hard-Hitting, Impactful Courses and Workshops.
- Total Productive Maintenance Books
- Integrating Your CBM Just Makes Sense
- Job Postings for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals
- Reliability Centered Maintenance for SAP Plant Maintenance
- “Free eBook Download on Effective Problem Solving”
- MRO Inventory and Purchasing Books
- Become an Aladon Certified RCM2 Facilitator
- R300S for When Good Enough – Isn’t Enough!
- The One-Stop Source for Lubricants & Reliability Solutions
- Belt/Sheave Alignment Laser, Custom Shim and Gaskets
