Articles

Subscribe for updates
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: May 13, 2024

Ultimate Guide to Swiss Cheese Model and Its Applications

Reading Time: 7 minutes

With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups, and executive leadership – I am committed to helping your organization thrive. At Reliability, we’re on a mission to help enhance strategic decision-making and operational excellence through the power of Root Cause Analysis, and I hope this article will be helpful!  Our goal is to help you better

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: April 23, 2024

5 Root Cause Analysis Examples That Shed Light on Complex Issues

Reading Time: 7 minutes

With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups, and executive leadership – I am committed to helping your organization thrive. At Reliability, we’re on a mission to help enhance strategic decision-making and operational excellence through the power of Root Cause Analysis, and I hope this article will be helpful!  Our goal is to help you better

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: May 19, 2025

5 Whys Technique: Simple Steps to Find Real Problems (with examples and template)

Reading Time: 7 minutes

With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups and executive leadership – I am committed to helping your organization thrive. At Reliability, we’re on a mission to help enhance strategic decision-making and operational excellence through the power of Root Cause Analysis, and I hope this article will be helpful!  Our goal is to help you better

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: April 25, 2025

Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Guide: Process, Symbols & Examples

Reading Time: 7 minutes

With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups and executive leadership – I am committed to helping your organization thrive. At Reliability, we’re on a mission to help enhance strategic decision-making and operational excellence through the power of Root Cause Analysis, and I hope this article will be helpful!  Our goal is to help you better

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: April 23, 2025

FMEA Guide: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis in Root Cause Analysis

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Dealing with potential failures and mitigating their impacts forms the core of reliability engineering. FMEA, also known as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis is a root cause analysis method that provides a path to improved reliability and enhanced performance. With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups and executive leadership – I am committed to helping

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: April 22, 2025

7 Powerful Root Cause Analysis Techniques and Tools

Reading Time: 5 minutes

With over two decades in business – spanning strategy consulting, tech startups and executive leadership – I am committed to helping your organization thrive. At Reliability, we’re on a mission to help enhance strategic decision-making and operational excellence through the power of Root Cause Analysis, and I hope this article will be helpful!  Our goal is to help you better

Read More
Image

by Sebastian Traeger

Updated: April 23, 2024

Understanding Failure Mechanisms and Components

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Understanding failure mechanisms and components is a critical aspect of reliability engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance across various industries. Whether you’re dealing with machinery, electronic devices, or complex systems, the ability to identify and comprehend how and why failures occur can significantly impact performance, safety, and longevity.  This guide aims to delve into the intricacies of failure mechanisms and the components

Read More
Image

by Bob Latino

Updated: January 5, 2022

What’s Wrong With The Term “Root Causes”​?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

There is great variation when it comes to a common understanding of the term ‘Root Cause Analysis’ or RCA. In a previous, lengthy paper, I wrote an article entitled “The Stigma of RCA: What’s In a Name?“. It focused on common understandings (or misunderstandings) of what RCA means and then described the basic steps of any investigative occupation. I just

Read More
Image

by Bob Latino

Updated: January 5, 2022

The Stigma of RCA: What’s in a Name?

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Stigma of ‘RCA’ Let’s start off with some honesty…the term ‘RCA’ (Root Cause Analysis) is quite vague, misleading and easily misinterpreted by those who are not immersed in its use. It is a useless and counter-productive term because there is no universally accepted, standard definition. Therefore, any process/tool someone is using to solve a problem is likely to be labelled as

Read More
Image

by Bob Latino

Updated: January 5, 2022

RCA in Action: The Space Shuttle Columbia Investigation

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As is typical in our manufacturing organizations, oftentimes it takes high visibility events with catastrophic consequences for a full-blown Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to be conducted. Many of us still have fresh memories of Challenger in our minds from over 17 years ago, and now we are faced with another investigation of equal (if not greater) magnitude.

Read More
Image

by Bob Latino

Updated: January 5, 2022

Root Cause Analysis Without Verification is Conventional Wisdom

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Root cause analyses are done every day all over the world. Organizations do root cause analysis because it is good business. From an explosion in an auto parts plant to the wrong prescription being given to a patient. Events such as these can have dramatic monetary, physical and psychological effects on an organization. To solve problems down to the true

Read More
Image

by Bob Latino

Updated: November 12, 2024

Hidden Treasure: Eliminating Chronic Failures Can Cut Maintenance Costs Up To 60%

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Every year, U.S. industry spends well over $300 billion on plant maintenance and operations. An estimated 80% of these dollars are expended to correct chronic failures of machines, systems, and people that occur daily, even hourly, in plants across the country.

Read More