Using Root-Cause Analysis to Find Underlying Causes of Bad Outcomes

摘要

Root-cause analysis, often called RCA, is a way of thinking about how to fix problems. By understanding the concept of finding underlying causes of problems, testing engineers have the technical knowledge and experience to become experts in root-cause analysis. As testing engineers, we often conduct forensic investigations to identify the direct causes of bad electrical events, but I doubt that more than a few of us have been requested to identify the underlying issues that led up to that event. NETA companies can add this skill to their marketing brochures by understanding what RCA is and how it should be conducted. Although several companies offer week-long RCA seminars, I found that engineers can sufficiently understand and apply RCA principles within a few hours by following the seven rather simple steps discussed in this article.