More books in category: Root cause analysis
by: Robert J. Latino, Kenneth Latino
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Topics include: blend tube, maximum quality production, collecting event data, latent root causes, modified failure modes, parallel port card, verification log, chronic events, event being analyzed, high pressure differential, proactive work, reactive work, error chain, outboard bearing, hardware malfunction, sporadic events, undesirable event, team charter, significant few, green pellets, functional location
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Exactly what is root cause analysis (RCA)?
From Book News, Inc.: Offering advice for identifying, understanding, and preventing chronic problems in business organizations, this book provides instruction on applying "Root Cause Analysis" to minimize losses. Chapters cover the classification of failure, failure modes and effects analysis, reliability, analysis teams, logic trees, communication findings and recommendations, tracking results, and the use of PROACT version 2.0. Case studies illustrate major points. The authors are consultants.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Reviews:
A unique and efective approach: During the past ten years I have worked with a nunber of methodologies in the area of Root cause analysis. During this time I have seen none as effective and cost efficient as the PROACT methodologies showcased in this book. Bob has written a classic RCA manual for all people in all industries. I personally have used both the methodology and software to great effect and would recommend them to anyone. If you are serious about a reliability growth program in your site, then you need this book!
A very readable book detailing an excellent system: I co-ordinate a root cause troubleshooting clinic at a major engine manufacturer. We have had moderate success with our investigations and have developed several powerful methodologies. This book has taken our procedures one large step further with a coherent, effective method to analyse and document a problem to root cause. The combination of system diagram, logic tree and verification log described in the book is exactly the kind of methodology we needed and is proving very useful. The book is well written and is filled with useful guidelines for such required activities as information gathering and selection of the most productive analyses to perform. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in root cause analysis.
Plant Engineering Magazine Senior Editor: Closing the gap between the goals companies set and their actual situations is the overall focus of this book. Written by two experienced executives from the Reliability Center, Inc., the book helps readers identify, resolve, and eliminate the chronic plant floor issues, such as repeated equipment or system failures, that hinder the attainment of organizational goals. Specialists in root cause analysis methodology, the authors discuss the roles of management and a root cause analysis team in prioritizing the problems to analyze, automationg the process, and helping to uncover the physical, human, and latent causes of undesirable workplace events. They point out that the gap between goals and reality that exists in virtually every industry leads to undesirable outcomes, failures, and incidents that siphon profits from the corporate coffers. To close the gap, they explain, companies must reinvent the way they work, understanding why errors occur and how to prevent them. The book explains root cause analysis, which is a structured process designed to uncover the cause of any undesirable workplace event. The PROACT steps outlined in the book teach companies how to preserve event data, order the analysis team, analyze the data using logic trees, communicate findings and recommendations, and track for bottom-line results. Case studies are used to illustrate the potential of root cause analysis, showing its effectiveness in particular in steelmaking, customer service, and manufacturing. Software for automating root cause analysis is also discussed. Informative, well-illustrated and well-organized text is worthwhile reading for any plant engineer seeking to understand why errors occur and to eliminate them, and have a direct positive impact on his company's bottom line.
RCA the way to go: I have now been involved with RCA for several years and it's the way to go in the future. This book is a good example of what Root Cause Analysis is all about. The book focuses on the use of the PROACT system and I imagine would they would work very well together. I am looking at trying PROACT as well, not just yet! Good book easy to read and gives good definitions to those foggy terms. I enjoyed the book and I use it for my job which speaks for it's self, it doesn't hide in a cupboard or on a shelf. I get the feeling this book is one of the better ones in the bunch, not just someone who has jumped on the RCA bandwagon because it's a flavour of the month.
Excellent book for industry to survive in the 21st century: This book gives you the tools to develop a strong reliability program. In my 35 years as a mechanical engineer (P.E.) in the chemical industry, I have seen several "programs" come and go. Reliability, when proactive as taught by RCI, is the one program that consistently documents very large savings to cost ratios. In order to survive in the 21st century, industry must have a strong reliability program. RCI is a pioneer (since the 1950's) in reliability and in particular teaching and training industry in using this valuable tool.
Should be a standard part of any RCA practitioners toolbox: In their book, "Root Cause Analysis: Improving Performance for Bottom Line Results," authors Robert J. Latino and Kenneth C. Latino of the Reliability Center, present a step-by-step action plan on how to properly construct and implement a root cause failure analysis program. Unlike many "pie in the sky" programs that offer outstanding results only if things are operating in a perfect world and ignore the possible pitfalls, the authors don't hesitate to discuss the risk factors and roadblocks that must be overcome in order for an RCA program to be successful. Not only do they cover the roadblocks, they offer specific how-to tips to help you overcome them in your facility. From Chapter 1, "An Introduction to Root Cause Analysis," to Chapter 10, "Automating Root Cause Analysis: The Utilization of PROACT", the authors literally lead you by the hands on how to properly perform RCA. Every potential pitfall is exposed and solutions offered to help you in your quest. I was particularly impressed with the emphasis that RCA should be used as a tool to help correct on-going problems that are sucking dollars from your organization a few thousand (or more) at a time. The natural tendency, in many cases, is to enact RCA in response to a catastrophic event. But it is the on-going problems that largely go unnoticed because they have become an accepted cost of doing business that one should really focus on. In fact, many of these on-going problems may not even appear in your CMMS - they're that much an accepted maintenance cost. Will an RCA be conducted when a catastrophic event occurs? Of course it will. But an organization that overlooks the potential return on investment from also focusing on the on-going problems is wasting a lot of money and manpower. Is a proper RCA easy or inexpensive to conduct? No. Like anything else, to do it properly and gain maximum benefit you will have to invest manpower and money. But with documented ROI's in some instances ranging from 3200% to 17,900% you must certainly stand up and take notice of the potentially powerful impact of a properly conducted and implemented RCA. This book, "Root Cause Analysis: Improving Performance for Bottom Line Results" should, in my opinion, be a standard part of any RCA practitioners "toolbox." It reads easily and was I can't comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the Reliability Center's own PROACT software as an RCA automation tool, as I have not evaluated other packages. But I would certainly agree that the automation of the RCA process in some way will be very important for RCA to remain a positive tool for organizations on a long-term basis. On a side note, I want to highly commend ISPAT Inland of East Chicago, Indiana, Eastman Chemical of Kingsport, Tennessee, and LYONDELL-CITGO Refining of Houston, Texas, for their sharing of their RCA case studies in the book. It is these real-life examples that bring things together and help give other organizations an "I can do it too!" attitude.