Root Cause Analysis Tip: Navigating the New Version 5 Software

We have been teaching courses using the new Version 5.1.4 Single User Software for a couple of months, and the users are finding the software very user-friendly.  One of the great features of the software is the built-in 7-Step Process Flow page that guides you through your investigation with an intuitive set of interfaces.

When you first begin an investigation, you will use the Activities > New menu item to open the Investigation Editor screen:

Once you have entered your Investigation summary information and saved it, you will then click the 7 STEPS button in the bottom right-hand corner:

This will bring you to the new Investigation Process Flow page:

From this page, you can start or access any TapRooT® tool that you need for your investigation.  For example, the first step in any Investigation is to start a Spring SnapCharT®.  From the Process Flow page, just click on the New button next to Spring SnapCharT®.  This launches the SnapCharT® tool.  Once you are done with the SnapCharT® and it has been saved, you then go right back to the Process Flow page.  You can check off the check box next to Step 1 to help you keep track of your Investigation progress, then move on to Step 2.

At each step, you have the opportunity to select any tool that helps you with that step.  You won’t use every tool every time (for example, maybe a CHAP is not required for your particular Investigation), but they are all only a click away if you need it.

Ready to analyze the Causal Factors you found on your Autumn SnapCharT®?  The Root Cause Tree®s have been automatically generated from your Autumn  SnapCharT®, so just Open the Root Cause Tree®s from Step 4 on the Process Flow page.  Ready to write Corrective Actions? Start a New Corrective Action from Step 6 on the Process Flow page.  Ready to review the final report?  Step 7 lets you Open the report from the same page.

We recommend you do ALL of your navigation through the software using the Process Flow page.  This helps the investigator maintain a clear picture of where you are and where you’re heading during the investigation, with ready access to any tool you need.

I’ll be talking to you more about the Investigation Process Flow page in future installments of the Root Cause Analysis Tips.