Which term is a structured examination to identify root causes and resulting effects of a problem?

Which term is a structured examination to identify root causes and resulting effects of a problem?

• A. FMEA
• B. Root Cause Analysis
• C. Pareto Analysis
• D. Ishikawa Diagram

Answer: (B)

Root Cause Analysis is the structured process used to uncover the underlying causes of a problem and understand how those causes lead to the observed effects. It goes beyond symptoms to trace the sequence of factors that produced the issue, often using methods like the 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams to map cause and effect and to identify corrective actions that prevent recurrence. FMEA is a proactive risk assessment to anticipate potential failures before they happen, not a post-event investigation. An Ishikawa Diagram is a visualization tool commonly used within root cause analysis to brainstorm possible causes, but on its own it’s just one method, not the full structured examination. Pareto Analysis helps prioritize issues by frequency or impact, but it doesn’t by itself identify root causes or the causal chain.

Root Cause Analysis is the structured process used to uncover the underlying causes of a problem and understand how those causes lead to the observed effects. It goes beyond symptoms to trace the sequence of factors that produced the issue, often using methods like the 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams to map cause and effect and to identify corrective actions that prevent recurrence.

FMEA is a proactive risk assessment to anticipate potential failures before they happen, not a post-event investigation. An Ishikawa Diagram is a visualization tool commonly used within root cause analysis to brainstorm possible causes, but on its own it’s just one method, not the full structured examination. Pareto Analysis helps prioritize issues by frequency or impact, but it doesn’t by itself identify root causes or the causal chain.