When you start developing your cause tree(s), you may want to assign actions to some causes. Actions can be simple reminders, or more complex actions to manage gathering of evidence and set remedial tasks. Showing both cuases and actions, enables a better and clearer view of the problem.

Easy development of cause tree with space for evidence, detailed commentary and coding of criticality of each cause. RCA2GO works in a browser, on desktop computers, laptops or mobile devices like touch sensitive tablets. RCA2GO supports mouse click or touch of your finger as the input device. Development of a cause tree is as easy as 1-2-3; 1. one click or tap creates a new cause, 2. one click or tap moves your cause anywhere you want within the cause tree, and 3. one click or tap connects it to, or deconnects it from the branch of the tree. It cannot be simpler than that.

5 WHYS is a simple approach to gain on insight to the root cause for simple problems. How does it work? First define the problem, then ask ‘why’ to find the first direct or immediate cause. Usually the initial answer to the first why is the result of a more deep seated cause, so by asking why a second, third and fourth time we can drill down to identify the underlying cause of the problem. Five is a nominal number. In reality, the questioning should continue until either the answer is beyond your control or becomes trivial. 5WHYS can be used as part of the wider investigation or process, or it can be used just by itself. It is a relatively simple process and can be used by individuals or work teams on the shop floor. 5WHYS is also very powerful. It can provide the building blocks for a bigger RCA investigation should a quick 5WHYS not establish a viable solution, or, if the consequences of the problem are great enough to warrant a thorough investigation. The software easily and quickly captures the 5 WHYS so that the investigation can be expanded if the problem is not truly solved.

Root cause analysis (RCA), generally speaking, is a method of problem solving that tries to identify the root causes of problems. In theory it is not a single, sharply defined methodology. However, RCA Rt implementation inside the RCA2GO software is a thoroughly defined methodology for a successful root cause analysis. It consists of carefully outlined 3 phases, each of which has 4 steps. That is 12 steps in total — at any given moment you know where you are within the process, and what is next to be done. RCA2GO software helps you create and guide through the RCA Rt investigation of any scale, across teams.
The story of RCA Rt becomes even more interesting when you start using this methodology not only reactively, ie. to solve problems, but proactively, eg to analyse real causes of your successes, to investigate your processes, the logic of operations in your business, intangibles, etc.

RCA2GO's Incident management system enables you to coordinate 5WHYS, Cause Tree (through our carefully outlined 12-steps method) and Six Sigma DMAIC (rigorous statistically based Six SIgma DMAIC methodology), allowing you escalation path as understanding and complexity of the problem develops. Findings and outcomes of one smaller investigation quickly feed into the inputs of another, wider scale investigation, and at all times you have a clear picture of the escallation path.

Like 5WHYS and RCA, Six Sigma is part of the toolbox of the continuous improvement philosophy. In many organisations Six Sigma describes a measure of improvement of quality that strives for near perfection. It is like extra fine tuning of the well-tempered piano. As such, it is a disciplined, measured, statistical, data-driven approach to recognise and remove the causes of tiniest of defects (errors, problems) and minimise variability in manufacturing and business processes. Why six sigma? The term "six sigma process" comes from the notion that if one has six standard deviations between the process mean and the nearest specification limit, practically no items will fail to meet specifications, and that applies to everythin that can be measured: products, services and processes.
The Six Sigma DMAIC process (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) is an improvement system for existing processes that fall below specification, and the team is looking for incremental improvement.

A risk is the amount of harm that can be expected to occur during a given time period. Statistically, the level of risk can be calculated as the product of the probability that harm will occur (or that an accident will happen, for example: not likely, likely, very likely, certainly) multiplied by the severity of that harm (for example: negligible, marginal, critical, catastrophic). In practice, such calculated levels of risk are placed into a matrix, usually within a small number of levels because neither the probability nor harm severity can typically be estimated with utmost accuracy and precision.

Risk matrix is a valuable visual tool that helps you be better aware of the spefici risks your organisation and its operation faces at all times. To bring the risk matrix into more versatile use, customise it for different purposes and fine tune it according to exacting needs of the situation, RCA2GO comes with configurable Risk ranging module. That means, you can use more than one risk matrix at the time, and across the whole team.

Too often maintenance programs are unfocused. Work is carried out automatically and simply because 'it looks important', but without a clear linkage to desired business results. Preventive Maintenance Optimisation (PMO) uses Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) and Reliability centered Maintenance (RCM) rules to review existing maintenance tasks, refine them, focus them and eliminate wasted activities.

In essence, PMO brings existing maintenance tasks and efforts into focus.

Reliability centered Maintenance (RCM) examines equipment in depth, and develops an understanding of how the equipment fails. RCM then weighs criticality of the effects of the failure modes, and applies RCM rules to create appropriate countermeasure.

In essence, RCM looks closely at the equipment and then establishes the safe minimum levels of maintenance.