Define root cause analysis (RCA) and give a basic method.

• A. A systematic process to identify underlying causes of a problem; methods include 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams.
• B. A procedure to document changes without investigation.
• C. A marketing technique.
• D. A method to speed up production.

Answer: (A)

Root cause analysis is a systematic process to identify underlying causes of a problem. The goal is to look beyond immediate symptoms and uncover the true factors that created the issue so you can prevent it from happening again. A basic method starts with clearly defining the problem and gathering relevant data. Then you explore potential causes and apply structured approaches such as the 5 Whys, where you keep asking why until you reach a fundamental cause, or a fishbone diagram (Ishikawa) that arranges possible causes into categories like people, processes, equipment, materials, and environment. After identifying the root cause, you implement corrective actions and verify that they effectively resolve the issue without creating new problems. This is about investigation and prevention, not just documenting changes, marketing techniques, or speeding up production.