RCA Corrective Actions Flashcards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In RCA corrective action selection, what does 'feasibility' assessment involve?

Answer: Evaluating whether the action is technically, financially, and organizationally possible to implement

Feasibility assessment ensures a proposed corrective action can actually be implemented given real-world constraints of technology, budget, and organizational capacity.