The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors [Paperback]

Max Ammerman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0527763268 | ISBN-13: 978-0527763268 | Publication Date: 1998 | Edition: 1

The answer is root cause analysis, a process that allows you to find the cause of single events/problems in the workplace. The Root Cause Analysis Handbook presents a walkthrough example that illustrates the method and shows how to implement it.

Because poor initial problem definition can (and often does) undermine the problem-solving process, Ammerman places special emphasis on this area to build a solid foundation for effective analysis. He also provides guidance on preparing the final report.

The need for clear documentation on dealing with problems makes this book especially valuable for quality managers, engineers, safety managers, and teams implementing the ISO or QS standards. Written in a simple, user-friendly style, you will grasp the core concepts quickly and begin applying them to your work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author offers a clear, well-organized presentation of the steps required for identifying, studying, correcting, and avoiding problems and mistakes in the workplace....This book takes a nitty-gritty approach to solving problems, and many organizations could well benefit from its guidance and good sense." -- James W. Marcum, Ph.D., Director of Library Services, J. Conrad Dunagan Library, UTPB, Review excerpted from the National Productivity Journal, Autumn 1998

"Max Ammerman expertly coaches safety professionals and non-professionals alike through a step-by-step approach to incident investigation. His thorough and practical process allows investigation teams to address the all-important human element in safety." -- Molly A. McClintock, Senior Partner, Safety Performance Solutions

"This book will give you the methodology to conduct accurate root cause analysis and develop effective corrective action. We use this methodology, and it works! If time-line, causal factor, and change analysis are not part of your investigation vocabulary, they should be." -- Robert G. Morrison, Senior Engineer, Florida Power & Light

"This handbook offers an effective and integrated approach to the root cause identification and problem solving process. An excellent source of information that explains the 'how-to' from cradle to grave." -- Jorge A. Labarraque, P.E., Total Quality Specialist

About the Author

Max Ammerman worked for 20 years in the nuclear program at Florida Power & Light, where he focused on quality and human performance issues, and, specifically, reducing human errors in the workplace. More recently, he has provided training and consultation for Great Britain's nuclear program and the US Postal Service.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Productivity Press; 1 edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0527763268
• ISBN-13: 978-0527763268
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique approach to a traditionally reactive technique, February 12, 2001

By 

Linda Zarate "IT Ops Consultant" (Azusa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors (Paperback)

My background is information systems service delivery. I stumbled across this gem when I was searching for resources on how to structure outage investigations for applications that did not meet service level objectives.

Prior to reading this book I viewed root cause analysis as a reactive tool to be used to investigate the causes of failures. The approach taken by the author is to also use this technique as a proactive tool in a manner similar to failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA).

Here is a summary of what how this book approaches root cause analysis: it begins with a section on defining problems and collecting data. This approach allows you to take a proactive approach, especially if you are in an environment that uses statistical process controls to measure process performance. This is augmented by a chapters on task analysis and event and casual factor charting. This is where the author's approach begins to resemble FMECA techniques, which are proactive versus reactive methods of addressing problems and risks. This is followed by chapters on interviewing and reporting.

I particularily liked the chapter on interviewing techniques, which added a practical dimension root cause analysis. I also liked the way the author used hints throughout the book to reinforce methods.

The rest of the brief 135-page book is devoted to forms, worksheets and checklists that significantly add to the value or the book. I would have liked an accompanying diskette with this material in electronic format, but the lack of it does not detract from the book in any way.

If you want to use root cause analysis as a proactive tool in conntection with a continuous improvement initiative I recommend that you also consider Understanding Variation by Donald Wheeler. If you are seeking a more proactive approach to preventing problems in the first place you might consider augmenting Root Cause Analysis Handbook with Failure Mode and Effect Analysis by D. H. Stamatis.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good introduction to root cause analysis., January 21, 2004

By 

Dave Piasecki (Kenosha, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors (Paperback)

This book does an excellent job of quickly covering conventional root cause analysis. With an emphasis on documentation, the author takes you through a series of steps that include defining the problem, methods for collecting data and gathering information, analysis of the problem, and ultimately developing corrective action. This book moves very fast, reading more like a slide-show presentation than a book, yet the author is able to communicate a lot of good information using this minimalist approach. Rather than detailing numerous analysis methods, the author keeps it simple by sticking with a fixed path to problem solving. I found the "Pitfalls of ..." sections after each topic very insightful. In addition, the collection of forms, tables, and checklists included in the book (great appendix) are excellent. Don't look for case studies here, this is a straight forward how-to book

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a methodology I use and know works!, March 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Root Cause Analysis Handbook: A Simplified Approach to Identifying, Correcting, and Reporting Workplace Errors (Paperback)

Provides a clear, step by step methodology, with techniques, for problem or error analysis and identifying a solution. This is an exceptionally practical work offering a methodology for problem solving that is attractive; one which I subscribe to and use. Recommended.