Structured Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

This course will be tailored to client needs. The ideal course size is maximum 14 participants with one, or 24 participants with a two, lecturer course. Typically, the course is a 4 or 5-day programme.

Day 1

• Kick off, introductions, course objectives and expectations
• Specifics of problem solving
• Summary of well-established investigation methods e.g. 5 Why, Tripod, RCA, Causal Reasoning, Structured Problem Solving.
• Various exercises to learn the methods by application: group work and report out

Day 2
Structured problem analysis and problem resolution

• Why a structured approach
• Facilitation lecture
• Structured problem solving in 5 phases

• Incident capture, risk assessment, ranking and prioritisation
• Problem identification and problem statement
• Data collection (timeline; drawings; trends; data assessment)
• Cause and Effect Diagram and validation (verification and elimination)
• Failure scenarios and cause selection
• Solution development and selection decisions
• Implementation plans and learning sessions
• Various exercises: group work and report out

Day 3
Full Day work on a case study to apply the structured problem analysis methodology, formulate the problem and produce timeline development and data analysis and reporting.

• Split in teams; exercise analysing and solving a problem
• Incident description and risk ranking
• Problem statement
• Timeline development and data analysis
• Cause and Effect Diagram
• Report out

Day 4
Full Day work on a 2nd case study, solution development and implementation plan

• Split in teams; exercise analysing and solving a problem
• Incident description and risk ranking
• Problem statement
• Timeline and data analysis
• Cause and Effect Diagram
• Failure scenarios and cause selection
• Solution development and Implementation plans
• Report out

Day 5
Lessons learned & any site specific subjects

• Presentation of case studies
• Lessons learned session
• Any client specific subject(s)
• Evaluation

Lessons learned & any site specific subjects

• Presentation of case studies
• Lessons learned session
• Any client specific subject(s)
• Evaluation