Root cause analysis template (A3 / 5-Why + Action Tracker)

{ "Title": "Root Cause Analysis (A3 + 5-Why) — Interactive Template", "IntroductionHtml": "

This guided RCA template helps teams capture a clear problem statement with data, run a disciplined 5‑why analysis with supporting evidence, capture immediate containment and longer‑term countermeasures, and track verification tests so fixes become lasting standard work. Use this for field incidents and engineering problems. Save the form to record the RCA and generate actions your team can follow up on.

", "SubmitLabel": "Save RCA", "SuccessMessage": "RCA saved. Actions are recorded and available for follow-up. Return anytime to update status, evidence, or verification results.", "DataType": "RCA_A3_5WHY", "SchemaVersion": "1.0", "Fields": [ { "Key": "rca_id", "Type": "text", "Label": "RCA identifier (site/team code + number)", "Required": true, "HelpText": "Use your site or team naming convention (e.g., PLT1-2026-001)." }, { "Key": "date", "Type": "text", "Label": "Date", "Required": true, "HelpText": "Use YYYY-MM-DD for consistency." }, { "Key": "reported_by", "Type": "text", "Label": "Reported by (name / role)", "Required": true }, { "Key": "location", "Type": "text", "Label": "Location / line / equipment", "Required": true }, { "Key": "problem_statement", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Problem statement (concise, measurable)", "Required": true, "HelpText": "Describe what happened, where, when, and the measurable impact (e.g., 150 rejected parts on Line 3 during shift B). Include numbers and customer impact if known." }, { "Key": "impact_summary", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Impact summary (safety, quality, delivery, cost)", "HelpText": "Summarize immediate and potential downstream impacts." }, { "Key": "containment_actions", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Containment actions (immediate steps taken)", "Required": true, "HelpText": "List immediate actions to stop further harm or production of bad product and who performed them (owner;time)." }, { "Key": "five_why_intro", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "How to use the 5‑Why section", "HelpText": "For each why, state the answer in plain language and list evidence that supports it (measurements, observations, photos, logs). Do not assume causes — capture facts." }, { "Key": "why_1", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Why 1 (immediate cause)", "Required": true, "HelpText": "Start with the immediate cause of the problem." }, { "Key": "why_1_evidence", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Evidence for Why 1 (notes, log refs, photos, timestamps)", "HelpText": "Reference files, photo IDs, equipment logs, test readings, or witness notes." }, { "Key": "why_2", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Why 2", "HelpText": "Ask why the cause in Why 1 happened." }, { "Key": "why_2_evidence", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Evidence for Why 2" }, { "Key": "why_3", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Why 3" }, { "Key": "why_3_evidence", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Evidence for Why 3" }, { "Key": "why_4", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Why 4" }, { "Key": "why_4_evidence", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Evidence for Why 4" }, { "Key": "why_5", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Why 5 (root cause hypothesis) " }, { "Key": "why_5_evidence", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Evidence for Why 5 (testable facts)" }, { "Key": "root_cause_summary", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Root cause summary (one or two sentences)", "HelpText": "Summarize the team's consensus on the root cause and the key evidence that supports it." }, { "Key": "countermeasure_overview", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Countermeasure overview (what will stop recurrence?)", "HelpText": "List the types of fixes considered (engineering change, training, visual control, tooling update, inspection, procedure update)." }, { "Key": "action_count", "Type": "select", "Label": "How many tracked actions do you want to record here?", "Required": true, "Options": [ {"Value": "1", "Label": "1"}, {"Value": "2", "Label": "2"}, {"Value": "3", "Label": "3"}, {"Value": "4", "Label": "4"}, {"Value": "5", "Label": "5"} ], "HelpText": "Use the action tracker below to record up to five actions. If you need more, attach a separate action register and reference it in Related documents." }, { "Key": "action_1_description", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 1 — description", "HelpText": "Describe the countermeasure or task." }, { "Key": "action_1_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 1 — owner (name / role)" }, { "Key": "action_1_due", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 1 — due date (YYYY-MM-DD)", "HelpText": "Use ISO date format for consistency." }, { "Key": "action_1_verification", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 1 — verification test (how will success be measured?)", "HelpText": "State a clear test, measurement, or observation that will prove the action worked." }, { "Key": "action_1_status", "Type": "select", "Label": "Action 1 — status", "Options": [ {"Value": "not_started", "Label": "Not started"}, {"Value": "in_progress", "Label": "In progress"}, {"Value": "complete", "Label": "Complete"} ] }, { "Key": "action_1_effectiveness", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Action 1 — preliminary effectiveness (1=low,5=high)", "HelpText": "Fill after verification testing." }, { "Key": "action_2_description", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 2 — description" }, { "Key": "action_2_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 2 — owner" }, { "Key": "action_2_due", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 2 — due date (YYYY-MM-DD)" }, { "Key": "action_2_verification", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 2 — verification test" }, { "Key": "action_2_status", "Type": "select", "Label": "Action 2 — status", "Options": [ {"Value": "not_started", "Label": "Not started"}, {"Value": "in_progress", "Label": "In progress"}, {"Value": "complete", "Label": "Complete"} ] }, { "Key": "action_2_effectiveness", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Action 2 — preliminary effectiveness (1-5)" }, { "Key": "action_3_description", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 3 — description" }, { "Key": "action_3_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 3 — owner" }, { "Key": "action_3_due", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 3 — due date (YYYY-MM-DD)" }, { "Key": "action_3_verification", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 3 — verification test" }, { "Key": "action_3_status", "Type": "select", "Label": "Action 3 — status", "Options": [ {"Value": "not_started", "Label": "Not started"}, {"Value": "in_progress", "Label": "In progress"}, {"Value": "complete", "Label": "Complete"} ] }, { "Key": "action_3_effectiveness", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Action 3 — preliminary effectiveness (1-5)" }, { "Key": "action_4_description", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 4 — description" }, { "Key": "action_4_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 4 — owner" }, { "Key": "action_4_due", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 4 — due date (YYYY-MM-DD)" }, { "Key": "action_4_verification", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 4 — verification test" }, { "Key": "action_4_status", "Type": "select", "Label": "Action 4 — status", "Options": [ {"Value": "not_started", "Label": "Not started"}, {"Value": "in_progress", "Label": "In progress"}, {"Value": "complete", "Label": "Complete"} ] }, { "Key": "action_4_effectiveness", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Action 4 — preliminary effectiveness (1-5)" }, { "Key": "action_5_description", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 5 — description" }, { "Key": "action_5_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 5 — owner" }, { "Key": "action_5_due", "Type": "text", "Label": "Action 5 — due date (YYYY-MM-DD)" }, { "Key": "action_5_verification", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Action 5 — verification test" }, { "Key": "action_5_status", "Type": "select", "Label": "Action 5 — status", "Options": [ {"Value": "not_started", "Label": "Not started"}, {"Value": "in_progress", "Label": "In progress"}, {"Value": "complete", "Label": "Complete"} ] }, { "Key": "action_5_effectiveness", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Action 5 — preliminary effectiveness (1-5)" }, { "Key": "verification_summary", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Verification summary (results of tests/observations)", "HelpText": "After actions are complete, summarize test results and measured change (e.g., defect rate dropped from X to Y)." }, { "Key": "metrics_to_monitor", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Metrics to monitor (what will you track and where)", "HelpText": "List KPIs, frequency of checks, dashboards or reports to review." }, { "Key": "lesson_learned", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Lessons learned (what should others know?)", "HelpText": "Include recommended changes to training, inspection points, or procurement." }, { "Key": "standard_work_update_actions", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Standard work update actions (who updates which procedures?)", "HelpText": "List the procedure/doc name, owner, and target date for the update." }, { "Key": "related_documents", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Related documents / attachments (reference IDs or links)", "HelpText": "Reference photo IDs, folder paths, SAP/MES records, or shared drive links." }, { "Key": "final_owner", "Type": "text", "Label": "Final owner — implementation sponsor", "HelpText": "Person responsible for ensuring follow-through and longer-term monitoring." }, { "Key": "confidence_scale", "Type": "scale", "Label": "Team confidence that root cause has been identified (1=low,5=high)", "HelpText": "If confidence is low, plan further testing before final closure." }, { "Key": "closure_recommendation", "Type": "textarea", "Label": "Closure recommendation (close, monitor, escalate)", "HelpText": "State whether the RCA can be closed, requires monitoring, or needs escalation." }, { "Key": "submit_for_review", "Type": "yesno", "Label": "Submit this RCA for managerial review?", "HelpText": "Selecting yes will flag this record for the reviewer workflow if configured." } ] }