What is a root cause analysis and name two common methods used in it.

• A. A method of scheduling maintenance tasks.
• B. A decorative term.
• C. A systematic process to identify underlying reasons for a failure; common methods include 5 Whys and Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams.
• D. A way to document inventory.

Answer: (C)

Root cause analysis is a systematic process to identify the underlying reasons for a failure, not just the visible symptoms. The aim is to uncover what allowed the problem to occur so corrective actions can prevent it from happening again, improving reliability and safety. Two common methods used in RCA are the 5 Whys, which involves repeatedly asking why a problem occurred until the fundamental cause is found, and Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, which organize potential causes into categories like people, methods, machines, materials, environment, and measurements to visualize how different factors contribute. These approaches provide a structured way to trace failure paths, gather evidence, and develop targeted solutions that address the real issue. The other options don’t describe RCA: one refers to maintenance scheduling, another is a decorative term, and the last is about inventory documentation.