Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic method to identify and address the underlying causes of problems, rather than just their symptoms, enabling effective long-term solutions. It involves defining the problem, collecting data, identifying causal factors, and implementing corrective actions, utilizing tools like the 5 Whys and Fishbone diagrams. RCA helps organizations improve processes, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction by transforming problems into opportunities for continuous improvement.

1. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
Identify, Eliminate, Prevent
By
Kazakia Akolde
Laboratory Field Officer-State
Lakes/WBG
27/9/2025

2.  Understanding Root Cause Analysis
 Relationship of problem, ,symtoms and causes
 What is the purpose/Benefits of Root Cause
Analysis?
 Core principle of RCA
 The RCA Process
 Tools /Techniques/Methods
 Fishborn, 5Whys etc
Objectives

3. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach used to
identify the underlying, fundamental reasons for problems or
issues within a process or system.
It goes beyond addressing surface-level symptoms, aiming to
discover the primary causes to implement effective and
sustainable solution
It is used for intensive/In-depth analysis of the problem
ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

4. Cause 1
Cause 3
Cause 4
Cause 5
Cause 2
Symtoms
 Result/ outcome of the problem
 What you see as a problem (Obvious, e.g
fever)
Problems
 Gap from goal/ standard
Root Causes
 System below the surface, bringing about the
problem( not obvious e.g infection)
Relationship of problems,symtoms and causes
Problem
Symptom
Symptom
Symptom
Symptom

5. Benefits/Important of Root
Cause Analysis
 RCA is a highly effective tool. It
holds great significance for analysts
work to mitigate the risks
 To discover the root cause of a
problem or event
 To fully understand how to fix,
compensate, or learn from any
underlying issues within the root
cause
 To apply what we learn from this
analysis to systematically prevent
future issues

6. Core principles
 Focus on correcting and remedying root causes rather than just
symptoms.
 Realize there can be, and often are, multiple root causes.
 Focus on HOW and WHY something happened, not WHO was
responsible.
 Be methodical and find concrete cause-effect evidence to back up root
cause claims.
 Provide enough information to inform a corrective course of action.
 Consider how a root cause can be prevented (or replicated) in the
future

7. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS process
1. Define the
problem
2. Collect Data 3. Identify possible
causal problems
4. Identify the root
cause (s)
5. develops Recommendation
& Implement solution

8. Example of methodes/ Tools use to preform RCA
 5 Whys; is a RCA technique that involves repeatedly asking "Why?" to identify
the root cause of a problem. The idea is to keep asking, "Why?" until you know
the root cause of your problem
 Fishbone Diagram; also called Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, help identify the
potential causes of a problem that can be grouped into different categories
 Pareto Analysis (80/20 Rule); is a combination of a bar chart and a line graph.
While the length of the bars represent the frequency or cost of faults, The chart
helps prioritize your issues
 DMAIC etc

9. Long TAT
Mother nature Man Method
Measurement Machine Material
• Light issues
• Workplace conditions
• lack of real-time tracking
• No training
• Negligence
• Workload
• Staffing levels
• Communication issues
• Broke down
• Lack of maintenance
• Outdated technology
• Long work-flow
• Lack of automation
• Manual process
• Inefficient processes,
• unclear procedures
• Lack of reagent
Example Root Cause Analysis Using Fishborn analysis

10. Because the company is trying to cut costs
WHY IS THAT?
Because there has been a hiring freeze
WHY IS THAT?
Because the team is understaffed
WHY IS THAT?
Because there is a backlog of requests
WHY IS THAT?
Because the requests are not processed promptly
WHY IS IT HAPPENING?
Long Turnaround Time
DEFINE THE
PROBLEM
Example of 5 WHYS analysis
Root Cause
Solution
. The root cause of long TAT is the company’s cost-cutting measures, which have led to a
hiring freeze and subsequently an understaffed team.
The company can address the issue more effectively, perhaps by finding
alternative cost-saving measures that do not impact staffing levels

11. Summary
• RCA is a method to focus our effort on true
causes, so that we truely prevent theirs
reccurrrences
• RCA help us reduce turnback and frustration,
maintain customers sarticfaction and reduce
cost
• Each problem is views as oppoturninty for
improvement, it containt information needed
to eliminate problem. but to identify the root
cause we have to ask why over and over again
untill we reach it
• Fishborne analysis and 5 Whys are example of
tool used for analysis

12. THANK YOU