The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors

A production line error is causing defective products to be manufactured. What should you do? A line worker is accidentally hurt. How do you determine what caused it? Could it have been prevented?

The answer can be found with root cause analysis, a process that guides you in finding the "root cause" of a single "significant event."

In The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors, author Max Ammerman presents a walk-through example that illustrates the methodology behind root cause analysis and how it can be implemented in your workplace. Written in a user-friendly format, the author discusses in detail each of the nine steps that make up the process. The steps are accompanied by hints and shortcuts to make your evaluation easier and faster, and has pitfalls you should avoid.

You'll learn how to evaluate the event, define and investigate the problem, identify the cause, implement corrective actions, and report your findings and recommendations. Included at the end of each chapter is an example that will help you reinforce what you have learned. The author emphasizes the necessity of developing a complete initial problem definition to ensure an effective analysis.

The Root Cause Analysis Handbook is especially useful to those who need to clearly document workplace problems. Quality managers, engineers, and safety managers, and teams implementing ISO or QS initiatives will find it to be very valuable.

About the Author

Max Ammerman worked for 20 years in the nuclear program at FP&L, where he focused on quality and human performance issues, and specifically, reducing human errors in the workplace. More recently, he has provided training and consultation for Great Britian's nuclear program and the U.S. Postal Service.