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Root Cause Analysis Flashcards

7 cards from real CQIA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Root Cause Analysis flashcards as text
  1. Which of the following BEST describes a 'contributing cause' in root cause analysis?

    Answer: A factor that increases the likelihood or severity of the problem without being the sole cause

    A contributing cause is a factor that worsens or enables the problem but is not sufficient on its own to cause it.

  2. A Pareto chart reveals that 3 defect types account for 78% of all defects. What should the improvement team do?

    Answer: Focus corrective actions on the 3 dominant defect types first

    Focusing on the vital few defect types first yields the greatest impact, consistent with Pareto (80/20) thinking.

  3. In the context of RCA, what does 'escape point' refer to?

    Answer: The stage in the process where the defect first became detectable but was not caught

    The escape point is the earliest opportunity in the process where the defect could have been detected but was missed.

  4. Which statement about the 5 Whys technique is TRUE?

    Answer: The number of 'whys' may vary depending on the complexity of the problem

    While five iterations are common, the analyst should stop at the number that uncovers the true root cause, which may be more or fewer than five.

  5. A team uses an Ishikawa diagram and brainstorms potential causes. The next logical step is to:

    Answer: Collect data to verify which potential causes actually contribute to the problem

    After identifying potential causes, data collection and analysis are used to confirm which causes are real contributors.

  6. Which of the following is an example of a SYSTEMIC root cause rather than a human error root cause?

    Answer: Training was never updated to reflect a process change

    An outdated training system is a systemic cause because it reflects a management or process failure that affects all operators, not just one individual.

  7. When performing RCA, 'containment action' refers to:

    Answer: Immediate steps taken to prevent a defective product from reaching the customer while investigation continues

    Containment actions are short-term measures to protect the customer while the permanent root cause fix is being developed.