RCA Starts With the Problem Statement
Write a root-cause problem statement that separates the observed nonconformance from suspected causes.
The reframe: do not solve the mystery in the title. RCA works when the team investigates from facts. It fails when the problem statement is already a verdict. Name the nonconformance A nonconformance is the observable gap against a requirement. It should include the expected condition, the actual condition, the population affected, and the business or customer impact. This gives the team a stable object to study. Keep cause language out of the first sentence Words like because, due to, careless, vendor, training, and process breakdown often smuggle in a cause before evidence has been tested. If you need a…
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