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Form · FRM-09

Root Cause Analysis Worksheet

Five-whys and cause-and-effect (fishbone) worksheet supporting corrective action.

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Purpose

Supports structured root cause analysis for corrective action using the five-whys technique and a cause-and-effect (fishbone) analysis across six categories, so that actions address underlying causes rather than symptoms or individuals.

What it covers

  • 1. Problem statement
  • 2. Five-whys
  • 3. Cause-and-effect analysis
  • 4. Conclusion
  • Authorisation

How to complete it

  1. 1.Involve the people who did the work; the purpose is learning, not blame.
  2. 2.State the problem precisely (what, where, when, how detected, how big).
  3. 3.Five-whys: ask 'why did this happen?' repeatedly; stop only when the answer is a process or system condition the Laboratory can change. Branch where there is more than one cause.
  4. 4.Fishbone: list contributing factors under each category, then mark the ones supported by evidence.
  5. 5.Record the root cause(s) selected, the evidence supporting them, and the actions proposed, and transfer to FRM-08.

Before you use it

  • Replace every square-bracket token, starting with [LABORATORY NAME], [ADDRESS] and [EFFECTIVE DATE]. The full token list is in GD-01 Read Me First.
  • Have the content technically reviewed against how your laboratory actually works, then approved by the responsible manager before it becomes a controlled document.
  • Update the Word fields after editing so the table of contents and page numbers are correct: select all, then press F9.
  • Record the document in your own document register and set its review date.

Related documents

This is an original template published by ValiTrac. It does not reproduce the text of ISO/IEC 17025 or of any accreditation body publication, and it does not by itself confer or guarantee accreditation. Customise, review and approve it before use.