Årsakteknikk

Årsakteknikk refers to a set of methods used to identify the underlying causes of problems or incidents. The aim is to move beyond surface symptoms and address the fundamental factors that contribute to recurring issues. These techniques are widely used in quality management, safety engineering, risk assessment, and problem solving across various industries.

Common techniques associated with årsakteknikk include:

- The 5 Why’s, an iterative questioning approach that seeks to drill down to root causes by repeatedly asking why a problem occurs.

- Ishikawa diagram (fishbone diagram), a visual tool that groups potential causes into categories such as people, processes, equipment, materials, environment, and management.

- Fault tree analysis, a deductive logic diagram used to map how combinations of failures can lead to a top event.

- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), a proactive method to identify potential failures, their causes and effects, and to prioritize actions.

- Pareto analysis, which helps focus on the most significant causes by frequency or impact.

Process often follows these steps: define the problem clearly, assemble a cross-functional team, collect relevant data, generate possible causes, test hypotheses, identify root causes, plan and implement corrective actions, and monitor outcomes to verify effectiveness. Årsakteknikk can be applied both reactively, after incidents, and proactively, to reduce risk or improve processes.

Limitations include dependence on accurate data and engaged stakeholders, potential biases, and the need for thorough follow-up on corrective measures.