RCA RCA Corrective Actions 2

Question 1

In RCA, what is a 'preventive action' as opposed to a 'corrective action'?

Accepted Answer

Preventive actions address potential problems before they occur; corrective actions fix problems that have already happened

Answer

Corrective actions respond to existing problems, while preventive actions proactively address potential problems identified before any failure has occurred.

Question 2

What is the risk of implementing a corrective action that only addresses a 'contributing cause' rather than the true root cause?

Accepted Answer

The problem will likely recur because the fundamental cause was not eliminated

Answer

Fixing only a contributing cause leaves the root cause intact, so the same fundamental conditions will eventually produce the same failure again.

Question 3

What does 'prioritizing corrective actions' based on risk involve in RCA?

Accepted Answer

Addressing failures with the highest severity, probability, or detectability risk first

Answer

Risk-based prioritization focuses limited resources on corrective actions that address failures with the greatest potential for harm or most likely to recur.

Question 4

In RCA, why might 'retraining an employee' be considered a weak corrective action?

Accepted Answer

Training relies on human compliance and does not change the system, so errors can still occur

Answer

Training-based corrective actions depend on individuals consistently remembering and applying new knowledge, which is inherently less reliable than systemic or engineering controls.

Question 5

What is a 'corrective action plan' (CAP) in the context of RCA?

Accepted Answer

A documented plan specifying actions, owners, due dates, and resources needed to address identified root causes

Answer

A CAP formalizes the corrective actions to be taken, assigning responsibility, timelines, and resources to ensure systematic follow-through after an RCA.

RCA - Root Cause Analysis Practice Test

RCA - Root Cause Analysis Practice Test

RCA RCA Corrective Actions 2