ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

I. Multiple Choice
1. A ______ is defined as a factor that caused a nonconformance and should be permanently
eliminated through process improvement.
a. Management
b. System
c. Root Cause
2. This technique focuses on what controls are in place in the process to either prevent or
detect a problem, and which might have failed.
a. Change Analysis
b. Barrier Analysis
c. Events and Causal Factor Analysis
3. It is also known as cause and effect analysis.
a. 4M Analysis
b. Root Cause Analysis
c. Fishbone Analysis
4. It is a method for evaluation which of the 4M conditions is responsible for a defect mode.
a. 4M Analysis
b. Root Cause Analysis
c. Fishbone Analysis
5. It is defined as a collective term that describes a wide range of approaches, tools, and
techniques used to uncover causes of problems.
a. 4M Analysis
b. Root Cause Analysis
c. Fishbone Analysis
6. It explores changes made in people, equipment, information, and more that may have
contributed to the change in performance.
a. Barrier Analysis
b. Management Oversight and Risk Tree Analysis
c. Change Analysis
7. One aspect of this approach is the use of a tree diagram to look at what occurred and why
it might have occurred.
 a. Barrier Analysis
b. Management Oversight and Risk Tree Analysis
c. Change Analysis
8. One of the core building blocks in an organization’s continuous improvement efforts.
a. Root Cause Analysis
b. Problem Analysis
c. Situation Analysis
9. __________ is part of a more general problem-solving process and an integral part of
continuous improvement.
a. Situation Analysis
b. Solution Analysis
c. Root Cause Analysis
10. Widely used for major, single-event problems, such as refinery explosion, this process
uses evidence gathered quickly and methodically to establish a timeline for the activities
leading up to the accident.
a. Events and Causal Factor Analysis
b. Potential Problem Analysis
c. Management Oversight and Risk Tree Analysis

II. True or False.

1. Fishbone analysis is a good way to solve a problem especially for employees who like to
visualize situations.
 True
2. The root cause analysis is instrumental in reducing breakdowns by restoring the
equipment, correcting basic weaknesses and preventing issues from coming back.
 False – 4M Framework
3. 4M’s Analysis is used to better understand our QA Matrix and address those factors which
can most likely influence the generation of defects within the manufacturing processes on
our journey to zero defects.
 True
4. Root cause analysis can be traced to the broader field of continuous skills development.
 False – Total Quality Management (TQM)
 5. The root cause is the core issue – the lowest-level cause – that sets in motion the entire
cause-and-effect reaction that ultimately leads to the problem(s).
 False – Highest-level

III. Enumeration

1-5. Approaches to Root Cause Analysis

 Events and Causal Factor Analysis

 Change Analysis
 Barrier Analysis
 Management Oversight and Risk Tree Analysis
 Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving and Decision Making

6-9. The 4M’s

 Man
 Machine
 Method
 Material

10-11. When is 5 Whys Most Useful?

 When problems involve human factors or interactions

 In day-to-day business life