Cause and Effect Chain Analysis Techniques

Cause and Effect Chain Analysis

• A cause-and-effect analysis (CEC) generates hypotheses about the causes and effects of a problem
• The CEC technique uses a structured diagram to express hypotheses about why a problem occurs
• It focuses attention on the process where a problem occurs to identify the root cause
• CEC analysis cannot replace empirical testing to determine root cause; it only identifies possible causes
• The analysis is used to clarify and systematically identify the possible issues involved in a problem

How to use Cause & Effect Chain analysis

• Step 1: Negate the goal of the problem. Brainstorm probable causes and categorize them
• Step 2: Further brainstorm causes and categorize
• Step 3: Use categories/branches developed in steps 1 & 2 to list causes
• Step 4: For each cause, ask "Why?" and "Why else?" until a potential root cause is found.
• Step 5: Use team judgment to select likely causes and discard unlikely causes
• Step 6: Repeat step 5 (to further refine likely causes)
• Step 7: Validate hypothesis related to the likely root cause, and implement the solution. If initial selection is incorrect, begin the process again with other cause categories.

Example of a Cause-Effect Chain

• Wrong Diet → Excessive Salts in Blood → High Blood Pressure → Headache
• This example illustrates a cause-and-effect chain, where a wrong diet potentially leads to a headache

Chains of Problems in an Engineering System

• A diagram illustrating the interconnectedness of problems within a system.
• Known and hidden problems interconnected to form a complete picture
• Separate key problems, known problems, and downstream problems from the originating problems

Example - Case Study from Procter & Gamble

• Initial product (coffee bags) was ineffective due to slow coffee extraction resulting in high cost
• The goal is to reduce the cost of a coffee bag

Case Study – Key Problems

• How to reduce Ca and Mg ions in the water?
• How to increase pore diameter while preventing sediment formation?

Solution - Case Study

• Reduce Ca and Mg ions by adding ionite particles to the coffee bag
• Ionites are inexpensive, and do not affect the flavor or chemical composition of the coffee.

Cause & Effect Chain Analysis - Example

• Used to diagnose a problem with a light not turning on
• Possible causes include a power outage, a broken bulb, a cracked socket, or a malfunctioning switch.
• The chain analyzes contributing factors until the root cause is identified.

This quiz explores the Cause and Effect Chain (CEC) analysis method used to identify root causes of problems. Through structured steps, participants will learn how to brainstorm, categorize, and refine potential causes systematically. Enhance your problem-solving skills with CEC analysis and understand its importance in identifying issues effectively.