WORLD CLASS ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
What is World Class Root Cause Analysis?
TapRooT(R) of course!
But there is more to it than that.
In addition to TapRooT(R), World Class Root Cause Analysis requires:
- A strategy for your improvement program
- A written improvement plan
- Trained resources (great people) to perform the analysis
- An improvement program owner to make the process work
- Middle and senior management support
- Advanced trending techniques (need database for this)
- Strategies for collecting and disseminating lessons learned
- Aggressive implementation of improvements (corrective actions)
- Management and supervisory support of behavior change initiatives (corrective actions)
- Specialized help for difficult problems
- Continuous effort (you are never “good enough”) and continued nurturing
- Processes to insure good, consistent investigations
- Rewards for good investigations and corrective action implementation
That’s my short list … what can you add to it?
This whole topic comes from an e-mail I received that I will share here.
Bob Cargill of TransAlta wrote:
- - -
Hi Mark - Last year one of the members of our corporate reliability group
attended a maintenance conference in Tampa Florida where a reliability
program scorecard workshop was offered. One of the aspects in the
scorecard was a KPI for RCFAs which indicated that investigations be
started within 72 hours of incident occurrence. Are you aware of any other
KPIs that would give us an understanding of the hallmarks of a world class
RCFA program? We already have TapRooT but we would like to enhance the
system that works with the software.
Thanks!
Regards,
Bob Cargill, RET
Reliability Specialist
TransAlta Utilities Corporation
Alberta Thermal
Duffield, Alberta
Canada
- - -
I replied to Bob that I would post his question in the e-Newsletter and here on the Root Cause Analysis Blog to see what feedback TapRooT(R) Users could provide.
So to post your comments below (click on the Comment link).
I also told Bob:
- - -
Two other ideas …
1. We have a session at the Summit on Best Practices for Corrective Action Programs and Root Cause Analysis and this topic could easily be added to the agenda for that session. Are you planning on attending the Summit? It really is the best place to network with other TapRooT(R) Users and find out what the best of the best are doing. For more summit info see: http://www.taproot.com/summit
2. I am working on a update to the TapRooT(R) Book and will add that to the topics to research and add to the book. We are going to discuss the book update at the post-Summit (Saturday) TapRooT(R) Advisory Board meeting.
Would you like to join the Advisory Board and attend the meeting? I could use more maintenance ideas on the board. I’ve pasted the original e-mail charter for the Adviory Board below so that you can see what it is about. Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Mark
- - -
For readers who are interested, I am looking for some new members for the TapRooT(R) Advisory Board. So if you are interested, please drop me a note.
Now please click on the comment link and provide me with your ideas about Key Performance Indicators and Measures of a World Class Root Cause Analysis Program.
Thanks
Mark
March 3rd, 2006 at 10:31 am
The items I have listed above would all require measures and tracking to fully evaluate and trend the performance of the root cause analysis process.
Some would be easier to evaluate … for example, Do you have a written plan?
Some would be more difficult … Management support?
Has anyone developed these kind of metrics?
If so, please post them - or samples of them - here.
March 13th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
An easy indicator would be the average “age to completion” of Root Cause Investigations. Several plants also grade the final report and assign a final score. This would be a good indicator also.
March 23rd, 2006 at 2:53 am
During the initial hand-over of investigations to the line function, I used a KPI that was developed to measure the phases (inputs, analyses and outputs phases) of an investigation in terms of process.
The inputs KPI covered:
1)the grading
2)time criteria for starting the investigation
3) Information gathering techniques used
4) Interviews criteria
5) Quality of information
The analyses KPI covered:
1) methodologies used
2) stakeholder involvement & buy-in
3) the traceable line from event concequences to root cuases to actions.
4)Categorization of findings
The output KPI covered:
1) Quality of the report
2) Quality of actions
3)Administration
4)Communication & feedback
The indicators were a combination of criteria specific and subjective measurements.
March 27th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Sorry, I’m not a blogger, but I’d like to comment on Bob Cargill’s and your thoughts on RCFAs etc.
I’m a retired Chemical Engineer working at US EPA Region 3 (Philadelphia, PA) in the Chemical Accident Prevention Program, under a grantee program where EPA gains the benefit of our industrial experience without having to add full-time-employees (who are inexperienced with the industries they write and/or enforce regulations for) or pay full-time-salaries.
First, regarding Mark’s “short list” of World Class Root Cause Analysis requirements . . . EPA’s RMP regulations require “Employee Participation” in much of the prevention program part of the regulation.
From my Technical Service and Troubleshooting experience in the Chemical Process Industry, one ignored Operator input at one’s own peril … the Operators are a fantastic source of info and observations especially regarding Management of Change, Mechanical Integrity, etc.
Second, in response to Mr. Cargill’s comments regarding “KPI for
RCFAs”, under the same regulations, Incident Investigations must be started within 48 hours of the event (and with the current state of my short-term-memory, should perhaps start sooner.)
Regards, Al
Alfred J. Baginski, P.E., DEE