RCA Data Collection and Analysis Flashcards

Which type of data is most valuable to collect immediately after a failure event in RCA?

Answer: Perishable evidence such as physical conditions, witness accounts, and system logs

Perishable evidence degrades quickly after an incident, making it critical to collect physical conditions, witness statements, and logs as soon as possible.

In RCA data collection, what is the purpose of a 'timeline reconstruction'?

Answer: To establish the sequence of events leading up to a failure

A timeline reconstruction chronologically orders all events before, during, and after a failure to identify what changed and when, pointing toward causes.

What is a 'check sheet' used for in RCA data collection?

Answer: Systematically recording the frequency or occurrence of specific events or defects

A check sheet is a structured form used to collect and tally data about the frequency of specific events or defects in a consistent, repeatable way.

Why is it important to distinguish between 'observation' and 'interpretation' when collecting RCA data?

Answer: Observations are objective facts; interpretations are inferences that may introduce bias

Keeping observations separate from interpretations ensures that conclusions are based on factual evidence rather than assumptions or premature judgments.

What is 'stratification' in the context of RCA data analysis?

Answer: Separating data into subgroups (e.g., by shift, machine, or operator) to reveal patterns

Stratification breaks data into subgroups to see if a problem is concentrated in a particular category, such as a specific shift, machine, or operator.

In RCA, what does 'witness interviewing' primarily aim to uncover?

Answer: First-hand accounts of events, conditions, and actions leading up to the failure

Witness interviews capture direct observations and experiences of people present during the event, which may not be recorded in any document or log.