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Step-by-step answers for PVology, written for what you are trying to do.
Problems & Root Cause
- How to contain a problem and record a recurrenceOn the problem's Containment tab record what limits the effect now and Save containment. When it happens again, choose Recurrence → Record a recurrence; a recurring problem asks for its earlier causes to be reviewed.
- How to report (create) a problemOpen Problems → Report a problem: the problem, current vs expected condition, impact, containment and owner, access; choose Report problem. It gets a reference (PBM-0001 …) and is analyzed before anyone chooses a solution.
- How to start root cause analysisRoot cause analysis runs on an improvement case or CAPA: on a problem choose Start an improvement case, then Start the analysis and open the Analysis tab. Use 5 Whys, cause and effect, Pareto and the cause tree; every cause says how sure you are.
- How to use 5 WhysOn the case's Analysis tab choose 5 Whys, Start a why chain from the effect and choose Ask why as many times as it helps. There is no fixed number; each answer can branch, and several chains can start from the effect.
- How to use cause-and-effect analysis (fishbone)On the Analysis tab choose Cause and effect and Add a cause to a category. Categories are your organization's (Change the categories). The diagram is drawn from the grouped list, which is the accessible view.
- How to use Pareto analysisOn the Analysis tab choose Pareto and Add a Pareto from entered counts or counted from records, with the source, scope and period. Bars show counts in descending order with the cumulative percentage; with fewer than two categories nothing is drawn.
- How to write a good problem statementState the observed condition against the expected one, where, since when, how often and how much, without a solution in it. Statement checks flag missing facts, solution words (implement, buy, need a system) and vague words (improve, better, issues).
- Hypothesis, likely and verified causes: how sure is a cause?Every cause starts as a Hypothesis (not yet supported by evidence) and is never shown as verified. Likely means supported by some evidence; Verified means confirmed with evidence and recorded by a person; Rejected keeps the cause with its reason.
- Why can't I mark human error as the root cause?"Human error" is where an investigation starts, not where it ends. A cause that reads like human error cannot be root, systemic or verified until you ask why the process, system, training, role or conditions allowed it, or record that those conditions were examined and what was found.
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