Felorsaksanalyser

Felorsaksanalyser, often referred to as root cause analysis, is a systematic process used to identify the underlying causes of faults or incidents in a system, product, or process, with the goal of preventing recurrence by implementing corrective actions. It distinguishes symptom from cause.

The approach is used in manufacturing, engineering, information technology, healthcare, transport, and safety-critical industries. It supports problem solving, quality improvement, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Typical workflow includes defining the problem, collecting data, reconstructing a timeline of events, generating and evaluating possible causes, identifying root causes, and recommending corrective and preventive actions. Verification and monitoring are used to confirm effectiveness.

Common methods include the five whys technique, Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, fault tree analysis (FTA), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA/FMECA). Often teams combine methods and tailor them to the situation.

The output is usually an RCA report or CAPA plan with identified root causes, contributing factors, responsible persons, deadlines, and success criteria. Documentation supports audit readiness and continuous improvement.

Best practices emphasize cross-functional teams, evidence-based reasoning, avoiding blaming individuals, maintaining traceability of data, and validating corrective actions. Limitations include data gaps, time constraints, and the possibility of multiple interacting causes.

See also RCA, FMEA, FTA, Ishikawa diagram, CAPA. Some sources mention standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 31000 that reference root-cause analysis as part of corrective actions.