Resources

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) has long been a staple in industries aiming to enhance reliability and operational performance. But the future of RCA tools and processes is evolving—especially as organizations embrace new technologies, scale efforts, and face increasing complexity. This post delves into emerging trends, persistent challenges, and what’s next in RCA, offering a realistic view of how the practice

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PROACT® is one of the most recognized and proven methodologies in the reliability and root cause analysis (RCA) world. Developed by Reliability Center, Inc., the PROACT® approach provides a structured, repeatable, and evidence-based process that enables teams to solve problems systematically and prevent recurrence. Unlike ad hoc problem-solving or reactive firefighting, PROACT® emphasizes discipline—collecting facts before jumping to conclusions, building

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5 Whys Root Cause Analysis is one of the most popular methods for investigating problems, but it isn’t always enough on its own. For more complex issues, teams often turn to logic trees to explore multiple potential causes. So, how do you know when to use the simplicity of 5 Whys versus the depth of a logic tree? This post

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Scott Wiebold, RCFA Subject Matter Expert at International Paper, loves Root Cause Analysis. Drawing insights from his recent appearance on Reliability 4.0, we will walk through the 5 steps required for successful Root Cause Analysis. Scott’s real-world experience shows how a structured process can turn any incident into clear, actionable insights. By the end, you’ll see exactly how RCA works

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Root Cause Analysis training is vital for building a culture of reliability—not just knowing the method, but applying it effectively. Without proper training, teams risk missed opportunities, costly downtime, and a reactive mindset. With it, they gain the tools and mindset to prevent recurring failures. This post covers why RCA training matters, the gaps it closes, and how investing in

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Root Cause Analysis (RCA) has long been central to reliability engineering, helping teams identify why failures occur and how to prevent them. Traditional methods like 5 Whys, logic trees, and fault tree analysis work but are often slow, facilitator-dependent, and subjective. Now, AI is reshaping RCA by moving beyond manual checklists and brainstorming. AI-powered tools, like EasyRCA, accelerate incident analysis,

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Root cause analysis has traditionally been a reactive discipline—often only activated after something breaks. While that will always be its core, emerging AI technologies are giving reliability professionals more information before a failure occurs—data that can make post-event RCAs faster and more informed. At the recent Mainstream Reliability Conference, a standout session titled “Empowered Reliability Engineers to Predict Failures Using

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For years, root cause analysis (RCA) has relied on structured techniques like the 5 Whys, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Cause-and-Effect (Fishbone) Diagrams to help teams understand why problems happen., and how to keep them from coming back. But as systems become more complex and data becomes more abundant, a new player has entered the RCA process: artificial intelligence. In

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A new Utility Dive piece highlights how the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) had to rethink MISO’s shortfall risk when a data slip changed how the region’s summer capacity was forecast. It’s a wake-up call: small data errors can lead to big reliability surprises if teams don’t verify, monitor, and adapt fast. So, what can we learn? Let’s look

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The push for widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption has put a fresh spotlight on an old reliability challenge: keeping critical equipment running when drivers need it most. For EV charging networks, that means chargers must be ready, safe, and efficient every time a car pulls up. But as the recent Charged EVs report on test strategies points out, the gap

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In April 2025, prominent UK retailers Marks & Spencer (M&S), Co-op, and Harrods faced significant cyberattacks that disrupted operations and exposed vulnerabilities in their cybersecurity frameworks. These incidents highlight the critical need for thorough root cause analysis (RCA) to understand and mitigate such threats effectively. The Incidents: A Brief Overview Marks & Spencer (M&S) M&S experienced a major cyberattack over

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What Happened in Richmond? In the early hours of May 27, 2025, a large portion of Richmond, Virginia woke up to a frustrating and unexpected problem—dry taps and low water pressure. What began as overnight maintenance work quickly led to a city-wide boil water advisory, with officials urging residents not to drink or cook with tap water unless it was