Tag Archives: Root Causes

One of the most effective methods of analyzing operational breakdowns is to conduct a Root Cause Analysis (RCA). Some of the data needed in order to drive the analysis includes all of the unplanned failure work orders, which component required repair for each work order, and how long each work order took to complete. This analysis can be conducted on each individual piece of equipment, an entire fleet of the same type of equipment, an entire fleet of the same piece of equipment purchased in the same year, or the entire fleet as a whole. Each Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) will calculate these values in its own way. The more specific to each individual piece of equipment, the better; however, total fleet size and time constraints may not allow for each piece of equipment to be analyzed on an individual basis.

Frequency vs Severity

The objective of the RCA is to select a failure that is having a substantial impact on the equipment in question. This can either be based on frequency or severity. Frequency being the amount of times the failure occurs within a given period. Severity being the cumulative time it takes to make the repairs within a given time period. Ideally, one or more types of failures may have a high frequency and a high severity. Collecting this data alone may uncover some surprising results. For example, some quick and easy repairs that do not take long can add up very quickly if the frequency is high enough. This can come as a shock when the total time spent on this one repair is tabulated.

Take, for example, the case of the Dead Battery (Figure 2). This repair on average may only take between half an hour and an hour for a mechanic to complete, including mostly drive time and a quick battery boost. It is such a quick, straight forward solution that it may not have captured much of management’s attention. Nevertheless, when you consider how many times a dead battery has occurred in the last three months and total the hours involved in correcting this issue, it may show up as the number two consumer of the maintenance department’s human resources (mechanics labor hours). Management must be critical at this point of statements such “that’s just the work environment.” Questions need to be asked about what can be done to improve the failures that drain the greatest amount of the department’s resources.

An important element to consider is that there are always multiple root causes for any given failure. The intent of conducting the RCA is to uncover all of the individual root causes that may lead to the failure of the component in question. The true root causes are rarely uncovered at the first layer of asking “Why?” for the first time. Each answer provided must then be analyzed all over again, and this process must continue until all avenues have been explored and the group has arrived at a tangible end. It will often take five “whys” to uncover the true root cause of an issue. Once the session has uncovered all of the possible root causes of the failure in question, a solution must then be presented to address each one individually.

These solutions come in the form of action items which are reviewed at the end of the meeting by the management team, responsibility is assigned, expected completion dates are provided, and the method in which the solution will be accomplished is discussed.

After conducting a Root Cause Analysis, the management team will have a list of action items. All of which will have varying impacts on the equipment’s reliability. It is important that the management team takes the time to assess each item on two main criteria: how easy the item will be to complete and to what extent its effect is predicted to have on the equipment. Combining these two scales will provide a strong basis for prioritizing action items and deciding what to tackle first. The management team should begin with the high impact, easy to implement action items and leave the low impact, hard to implement action items for last.

RCA Action Item Generation

When considering what corrective actions can be taken in order to solve the root causes of the failure in question, keep in mind the areas or touch points where changes can be made to affect the equipment. Again, these can be simplified as:

► The Operator (how the equipment is used) – Change the process in which the equipment is used. Sometimes an operator is using equipment incorrectly or in a harmful way without knowing it. Added training will often improve these issues. It is common for operators to be required to inspect all equipment before use. This usually occurs in the form of a pre-use checklist. This checklist can be modified to draw the operator’s attention to certain areas of the equipment in which wear can be seen. Noting this wear, and informing maintenance, can prevent the component from failing during use.

► The Mechanic (how the equipment is repaired) – Sometimes the method in which repairs are made inside or outside of the shop will affect the way the equipment operates. If the equipment’s use is required at the time of breakdown, a mechanic may provide a “patch” to ensure it runs immediately. These “patches” however, will not always last until the next service date for the piece of equipment.

► The Service (how the cyclical services are conducted) – Consider the actual activities performed on the equipment during its regular preventative maintenance service. Can these activities be changed or include more that would prevent the root cause in question? Perhaps a specific component that is failing often needs to be cleaned during the service or inspected specifically for signs of wear.

► The Design (how the equipment is designed or modified) – In underground mining, equipment modifications are often required by law in North America before the equipment can even be commissioned. These modifications can vary depending on the type of underground mine. It is important to understand what impact these modifications have on the operation of the equipment. In the Dead Battery case example, maybe the equipment in question was outfitted with additional lights to make it safer to drive underground where it is pitch black. The addition of these extra lights places a larger strain on the battery and alternator. Have the battery and alternator been upgraded to keep up with this added strain as well?

These are the areas that the department has complete control over. An organization cannot control the weather, but they can understand what effects the weather has and correct them at their root. Winter brings cold temperatures; cold temperatures make it difficult for equipment to start.

The temperature cannot be changed, but where the equipment is parked can be. Can they be stored in a heated area? Could block heaters be installed at low cost? These are the kinds of questions that must be discussed in the Root Cause Analysis session with all stakeholders in the room.

Finding the root causes of operational hardships can minimize downtime and significantly boost productivity. With over 50 years of operations management experience, USC Consulting Group can troubleshoot any issues and establish preventative maintenance processes to enhance your asset management. Reach out today to learn more on how to set up an effective Root Cause Analysis.

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