The Full Guide of Root Cause Analysis Template
The root cause analysis (RCA) template is a specialized term for many people. In reality, most people follow the template to make various decisions. Briefly, it is able to help us to discover the underlying reason for an issue or problem. A student being late to class, for example, may have a root cause of his home being too far from the school. Once people could identify the real reason behind the problem, it became simpler to handle it or fix it, rather than treating the symptoms. Considering that many people are not familiar with the root cause analysis template, we are going to share everything you should know about it in this post.
PAGE CONTENT:
Part 1: What Is Root Cause Analysis Template
Root cause analysis template, also known as RCA, is the process to discover the root cause of the problem. The root cause is what leads to the cause-and-effect chain of the problem or problems. Compared to other methods, RCAs are better at identifying the real root causes or issues. More importantly, some templates are used as general problem-solving techniques in businesses.
Part 2: 10 Root Cause Analysis Template Forms
In this part, we will share the top 10 popular root cause analysis templates for getting the root cause of any problems.
1. Root Cause Analysis Template Excel
This is a root cause analysis template that contains five pages in Excel. It is a tool for finding causes of process problems and developing actions for eliminating, preventing, and minimizing future problems. You can find the root cause of your problem and fix it in 10 steps.
2. Root Cause Analysis Template PowerPoint
If you are working with a team to fix a problem, this root cause analysis template is a good option. It is a presentation, and when finished fixing the problem, you can show the process to your team members directly. It not only includes the process of root cause analysis, but also contains some information about the history of root cause analysis.
3. Root Cause Analysis Template for Word
If you prefer Microsoft Word, this root cause analysis template could meet your demands for problem and root cause analysis. It is free to use on your project and within the organization.
4. Simple Root Cause Analysis Template
As its name suggests, this root cause analysis template is a good starting point. If you are a beginner at root cause analysis, the straightforward form will help you to complete the thinking mapping process smoothly.
5. 5 WHYs Root Cause Analysis Template
5 WHYs is a popular root cause analysis template. It is an easy and methodical approach to identify the underlying root cause of a problem. Furthermore, it drives you to find the solution for troubleshooting the issue and avoiding it from occurring next time.
More Tips: Use the AI-Powered Mind Map for Root Cause Analysis
While the 5 Whys method provides a structured approach to identifying causes, creating and organizing that structure manually can be time-consuming.
With AI-powered mind mapping tools like MindOnMap, you only need to input a problem description or analysis requirement, and the system can automatically generate a clear and well-structured cause analysis map.
Its Key Features
- AI-powered structure generation.
- Multiple structure choices like Mind Map, Timeline Chart, Fishbone Chart, etc.
- Visual cause-and-effect mapping.
- Flexible editing and refinement.
- Support for common RCA methods.
6. Root Cause Analysis Format
This root cause analysis template is made in PDF format. It offers very detailed steps and guidance to help you discover the root cause. As a template, you can use it repeatedly.
7. Root Cause Analysis Report
This root cause analysis template only has one page, but it is enough to analyze the real root cause of a simple problem in your work or daily life. Moreover, it divides the root cause of a problem into several elements, like people, environment, and more.
8. Simple Root Cause Analysis Form
It is another simple root cause analysis template for beginners to find the root cause of an issue.
9. Root Cause Hypothesis
This is a flexible root cause analysis template. If you are an advanced user, it is a good choice to design your analysis as you wish.
10. Root Cause Analysis Template 21
This root cause analysis template looks like a multi-5 Whys. So it is more suitable to analyze complicated problems.
Part 3: How to Run Root Cause Analysis Template
To show you how to use the root cause analysis template, we use the 5 Whys Root Cause Analysis process as an example.
Step 1. Describe the problem correctly
Though it sounds simple, this step is very difficult as well as important. You should spend some time defining the problem you are facing, because all other steps will be built based on the problem. If the problem is stated muddy or unclear, the solution will be muddy too.
Step 2. Why the problem happened
There may be a lot of causes related to a problem. But you should determine one cause at a time. Ask yourself why this happened to get the cause.
Step 3. Take a close look at whether the cause is a root cause
Once you get a cause from step 2, write it down and analyze whether it is the real and underlying root cause of the problem. If it is just a fact but not the root cause, go back to step 2 and think about the second cause.
This step needs to work with step 2. And you have to repeat them several times until you discover the final and underlying root cause of the problem. With the 5Whys root cause analysis template, you usually need to repeat steps 2 and 3 at least five times to get the root cause. That is why it is called 5 Whys.
It takes a while to complete this step, so you have to be patient.
Step 4. Find the proper solution
The purpose of root cause analysis template is to solve problem or fix the root cause. Based on the analysis of steps above, you should get the root cause of your problem. Next, you have to think about the solution to fix it and prevent the problem from happening again. Compared to other steps, this is the real value of 5 Whys.
Moreover, you also have to correct the definition of the problem at the starting point. If you run the template properly, it will be the last time to correct it. This method applies to analyzing problems like "my phone is frozen and won’t do anything", "phone says no SIM", etc.
Part 4: FAQs of Root Cause Analysis Template
How do I use a Root Cause Analysis template effectively?
First, you need to gather all relevant data and information related to the incident or problem you’re investigating. Then, use the Root Cause Analysis Template to systematically analyze the incident, identifying the root cause or causes. Once you’ve identified the root cause, you can then develop corrective actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
What should be included in an RCA template?
First, background. You need to provide a brief overview of the incident that occurred. Second, incident description, including any relevant observations. Then, you need to assess the impact of the incident on various aspects. Apart from these, you can add root cause identification, corrective actions, follow-up plans, etc.
Can an RCA template be customized for specific industries or processes?
A Root Cause Analysis Template can be customized for specific industries or processes. The template can be adjusted to include relevant categories, factors, and steps that are specific to the industry or process in question.
Can I find free RCA templates online?
Yes, you can find a free Root Cause Analysis Template online. Several websites offer templates. Some popular websites where you can find free Root Cause Analysis Template templates include Template.net, Smartsheet.com, and Lucidchart.com. These templates are often customizable and can be downloaded in various formats.
What are the 3 main objectives of root cause analysis?
The three main objectives of root cause analysis are to identify the underlying cause or causes of a problem or event, to determine the actions necessary to prevent the problem from recurring, and to improve overall system performance.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have talked about a professional term, root cause analysis template. If you have asked what root cause analysis is on social media or forums, you will find the knowledge about it in our introductions above. It is used to find out the causes of problems and is popular among professionals. Furthermore, we have shared the top 10 templates to help you to fix problems quickly.
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