Who created the PROACT® root cause analysis methodology?

PROACT® was developed by Charles Latino, who introduced formal reliability principles at Allied Signal Chemical in 1973. He founded Reliability Center, Inc. in 1985 and codified PROACT® as a structured methodology for identifying physical, human, and systemic root causes. RCI has refined and taught it for over 50 years.

How long has Reliability Center, Inc. been in business?

Reliability Center, Inc. was founded in 1985, with origins tracing to 1973 when founder Charles Latino introduced the first formal reliability program at what is now Honeywell. RCI has been developing and teaching root cause analysis methodology for over 50 years.

What is the difference between PROACT® and other RCA methods like 5-Why or Fishbone?

5-Why and Fishbone stop at surface-level causes. PROACT® is the only method that explicitly requires all three root cause layers: the physical failure, the human decision that caused it, and the organizational gap that allowed it — the systemic level where durable prevention actually occurs.

What industries does Reliability Center, Inc. serve?

RCI serves asset-heavy industries where unplanned downtime is costly: oil and gas, manufacturing, power generation, chemicals, food and beverage, steel, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and government. Reference accounts include ADM, PepsiCo Frito-Lay, CMC Steel, International Paper, ADNOC, SABIC, DP World, and the U.S. Air Force.

How many people has RCI trained in root cause analysis?

RCI has trained tens of thousands of reliability and maintenance professionals worldwide through live, virtual, and on-demand formats — from RCA 101 through PROACT® certification and train-the-trainer programs.

What results have organizations achieved using PROACT® and EasyRCA?

ADM documented $70 million in savings across 30+ sites. PepsiCo Frito-Lay scaled to 650+ users across 40+ plants. CMC Steel deployed across 40+ sites with 400+ users. Ash Grove Cement completed 130+ RCAs in its first 10 months.

Is EasyRCA built by the same organization that created PROACT®?

Yes. EasyRCA is built by Reliability Center, Inc. — the same organization that developed PROACT®. It is the only RCA platform where the software and the methodology come from the same source, with 50+ years of investigative expertise built directly into the product.

How is RCI different from other RCA software or consulting vendors?

Most vendors offer software or consulting — RCI offers both, plus the methodology that underpins them. No other vendor combines 50+ years of methodology development, a purpose-built AI platform, certified training, and ongoing program support through Quarterly Reliability Reviews.

Is EasyRCA used globally?

Yes. EasyRCA is used by hundreds of corporations on every continent, including enterprises in North America, Europe, and the Middle East — ADNOC, DP World, and QatarEnergy among them. The platform supports Arabic display and regional data residency for Gulf-region deployments.

What does a mature RCA program look like?

A mature RCA program consistently reaches systemic root causes, closes corrective actions at a high rate, and shows measurable reductions in repeat failures over time. RCI's RCA-SCORE framework and Quarterly Reliability Reviews give organizations a structured way to assess where their program stands and what to improve.

Over 50 Years of Improving Root Cause Analysis

Since 1967, we’ve helped organizations improve root cause analysis—enabling teams to investigate deeper, uncover true causes, and prevent problems from recurring through expert training, practical consulting, and software that makes better investigations easier to run and scale.

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A Legacy That Shaped Root Cause Analysis

In the 1950s, Charles J. Latino began searching for better ways to improve asset reliability. Instead of relying on quick fixes, he focused on long-term performance and developed a methodology for deeper investigation.

In the early 1970s, he put these ideas into practice at Allied Chemical, now Honeywell, where he established one of the first corporate reliability engineering groups. By applying these concepts to real-world industrial challenges, Charles helped pioneer a new way of thinking—one centered not just on fixing problems, but on systematically identifying and eliminating their root causes.

This work in the early 1970s became the foundation of Reliability Center, Inc.—and the development of the PROACT® Root Cause Analysis methodology.

PROACT® gave organizations a structured way to move beyond symptoms and uncover the physical, human, and latent causes behind problems. Through expert training and hands-on consulting, these principles helped teams build the capability to run stronger investigations and drive measurable results.

In 1999, these ideas were formalized in “Root Cause Analysis: Improving Performance for Bottom-Line Results”, a defining publication authored by the Latino family that helped shape modern RCA practices across industries.

RCI later introduced PROACT® software, giving teams a practical way to apply the methodology and manage investigations more effectively.

In 2020, this evolution continued with the launch of EasyRCA, a modern platform designed to make high-quality root cause analysis easier to run, standardize, and scale.

Today, RCI continues to evolve its approach through training, consulting, and software—
helping organizations run better investigations, standardize RCA across teams, and scale effective programs from a single site to the enterprise.

50+

Years of Experience

30k+

Professionals Trained

25k+

RCAs Created

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Three Ways We Help Organizations Improve RCA

We help organizations improve root cause analysis through a combination of training, consulting, and software—
each designed to strengthen investigations and build lasting capability.

Training

Build RCA Capability Across Your Team

Equip teams across operations, maintenance, quality, safety, and leadership with proven methodologies that lead to stronger investigations and more effective corrective actions.

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Consulting

Solve Complex Problems with Expert Support

Work alongside experienced practitioners to investigate critical events, improve processes, and strengthen your RCA program where it matters most.

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Software

Run Better Investigations, Faster

Standardize and scale root cause analysis with software designed to guide investigations, improve collaboration, and ensure consistency across teams and sites.

Explore RCA Software

Individually, each makes an impact. Together, they create a complete RCA system that drives real results.

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What We Believe About Root Cause Analysis

Root cause analysis isn’t just a process—it’s a way of thinking. And when it’s done well, it changes how organizations solve problems.

CORE BELIEFS

1 RCA Should Go Beyond Symptoms

Fixing what broke isn’t enough. Effective root cause analysis uncovers the physical, human, and systemic causes behind problems—so they don’t come back.

2 Consistency Matters More Than Complexity

The best RCA programs aren’t the most complicated—they’re the most consistently applied. A clear, structured approach leads to better results across teams and sites.

3 RCA Is a Team Sport

The best insights don’t come from one person. Strong investigations bring together the right perspectives across operations, maintenance, quality, safety, and leadership.

4 Tools Should Support Thinking—Not Replace It

Software should make RCA easier to run and scale—but better outcomes come from better thinking, not automation alone.

5 RCA Should Drive Action

An investigation isn’t complete until it leads to meaningful corrective actions. The goal isn’t analysis—it’s preventing problems from recurring.

When these principles come together, organizations don’t just solve problems—they build the capability to prevent them.

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How Effective Is Your RCA Program?

After working with organizations for decades, we’ve seen that most teams have some form of RCA—
but effectiveness varies. This assessment helps you evaluate your approach and identify opportunities to improve.

Next Steps on Your RCA Journey

1

Connect with an Advisor

Schedule a 15-minute intro session with one of our RCA advisors.

2

Review Your Goals

A short, no-pressure conversation on your facility's current RCA program and goals.

3

Define Your Path

We'll identify the right RCA expert to help you explore the perfect solutions for your team.

Over 50 Years of Improving Root Cause Analysis

A Legacy That Shaped Root Cause Analysis

50+

30k+

25k+

Three Ways We Help Organizations Improve RCA

Training

Build RCA Capability Across Your Team

Consulting

Solve Complex Problems with Expert Support

Software

Run Better Investigations, Faster

What We Believe About Root Cause Analysis

CORE BELIEFS

1

RCA Should Go Beyond Symptoms

2

Consistency Matters More Than Complexity

3

RCA Is a Team Sport

4

Tools Should Support Thinking—Not Replace It

5

RCA Should Drive Action

How Effective Is Your RCA Program?

Next Steps on Your RCA Journey

Contact Us About Our RCA Programs

Frequently Asked Questions