What is Root Cause Analysis in manufacturing?

Using root cause analysis, the underlying causes of an incident can be identified, so you can find the most effective solution for fixing it. The term is most commonly used when things go wrong, but it is also useful when things go well.

It is much more advantageous to prevent the problem from occurring than to react to its harmful effects when solving it. The root cause analysis in manufacturing is the key to effective problem solving.

Many different tools are available to conduct root cause analysis, but the most common technique is – “Five whys”. By asking why repeatedly, it investigates the hidden causes of the specific problem. The number 5 is never fixed, but usually the root cause is found around it.