World-Class Root Cause Analysis
![world-class](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/world-class-2.jpg)
Three Steps to World-Class Root Cause Analysis
There are three steps to world-class root cause analysis:
- Find a world-class root cause analysis system.
- Implement the world-class root cause analysis system.
- Continuously improve your use of the world-class root cause analysis system.
Sounds simple enough, but I will explain each step in detail below.
But first, some history…
World-Class Root Cause Analysis History
Back in 2005, I had a TapRooT® User ask:
“What is world-class root cause analysis?“
The answer was TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis … of course!
![](/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TapRooTLogo.gif)
Our discussion continued. He told me that an associate had attended a conference, and a speaker said that you needed KPIs for your root cause analysis. The speaker said that one KPI should include:
Start the investigation within 72 hours of the incident.
This made me think. What are the factors that make a world-class root cause analysis system? What KPIs would indicate a great investigation? Could we develop a system to grade investigations and score them to provide feedback to investigators to improve their root cause analysis?
![](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TapRooT®-Book-History.png)
When this question was asked in 2005, it was after we wrote the old TapRooT® Mauals and the “green” TapRooT® Book, but before we wrote the first “black” TapRooT® Book (2008) and way before we started writing the 10-book set of TapRooT® Books (2015).
![TapRooT® Books - 10 book set](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/10-Book-Set.jpeg)
So, there wasn’t a Book 2 with criteria for TapRooT® implementation.
![improvement program checklist](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image.png)
Therefore, this question about world-class root cause analysis and KPIs started the development of the TapRooT® Investigation Grading System, which is now a part of the TapRooT® Software. It also started the development of the guidance for implementation of the TapRooT® System.
![TapRooT® ® Software VI Grading](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2022-08-06-at-3.02.57-PM.png)
That question – “What is world-class root cause analysis?” – led to significant improvements in the TapRooT® System.
So, nineteen years later, let’s discuss world-class root cause analysis and how you can make your root cause analysis world-class using the guidance we have today.
First Step to World-Class Root Cause Analysis
To perform world-class root cause analysis, you must have a world-class root cause analysis system. At a minimum, the system must meet the root cause analysis fundamentals spelled out in this article:
Fundamentals of Root Cause Analysis
I won’t review all the requirements here, but I will say that implementing TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis meets the fundamentals of root cause analysis (and goes beyond the fundamentals – making TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis world-class).
If you have never been to a TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis Course, pick one from THIS LIST and register to learn more.
Second Step – Implementing a World-Class RCA System
This step is covered in Chapter 3 of TapRooT® Book 2 – TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis Implementation. THIS LINK outlines the book and will give you some ideas. But the best way to learn about implementing a world-class root cause analysis system is to read the book (about 90 pages). CLICK HERE to order your copy. I would suggest taking a 5-Day TapRooT® Advanced Root Cause Analysis Team Leader Course to learn all the TapRooT® RCA has to offer.
Third Step – Continuous Improvement
If you want world-class root cause analysis, you must continuously improve your root cause analysis system. After all, no one is perfect. We continuously improve the TapRooT® RCA System. You will need to keep up to date with the improvements we are making and become more effective in your application of TapRooT® RCA.
Where can you get ideas to continuously improve your implementation of TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis? Where can you benchmark your TapRooT® Implementation against other industry leaders? How can you keep up with the latest improvements we are making to the TapRooT® System? Those questions are easy!
![EASY](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/image-1.jpeg)
Make sure that someone (or maybe a whole team) from your site/company attends the Global TapRooT® Summit every year.
![TapRooT® Summit General Session](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-2.png)
What’s the Summit all about? Watch this video if you have never attended the Summit before…
Each year, we have sessions at the Summit to refresh your TapRooT® knowledge and communicate the latest improvements. In addition, TapRooT® Users share best practices to help you keep your TapRooT® Implementation world-class. The Summit is the perfect place to benchmark your implementation of the TapRooT® System against other industry leaders.
Find out more about this year’s pre-Summit Courses, Summit Keynote Speakers, and Best Practice Tracks by CLICKING HERE.
Get Your Implementation Evaluated
Would you like to get your implementation of the TapRooT® System evaluated by a TapRooT® Expert? Call a TapRooT® Implementation Advisor at 865-539-2139 or CLICK HERE to contact one and discuss your implementation with an expert.
![TapRooT® Implementation Advisors](https://www.taproot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Implementation-Advisors-Dec-2022-1.jpeg)
They will all be at this year’s Global TapRooT® Summit and would be happy to sit down with you to evaluate your TapRooT® Implementation and point out other TapRooT® Users you should network and benchmark with.