Root Cause Analysis,

how science can help us with the investigations?

Oscar Rodriguez-Gonzalez
PhD, PAg, CFS, ASQ-CQE, ISSP-SA

Rodriguez-Gonzalez Services Corp.

Content
Root cause analysis
Being a scientist
Investigations & food
Science, investigations, and root cause analysis

Root cause analysis

5W
What?

Who?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

5 Whys
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?

5 Whys and 5 Hows

Why?

How?

Why?

How?

Why?

How?

Why?

How?

Why?

How?

Root cause analysis

Materials

Measurements

Methods

Problem
Environment

Manpower

Machines

Root cause analysis

Materials

Measurements

Methods

Problem
Environment

Why?

Manpower

Why?

Machines

Why?

Why?

Why?

Being a Scientist

Being a Scientist

Dr. Kiki Sanford

https://youtu.be/3IL_Df5ouUc

Bill Nye
https://youtu.be/8z_CqyB1dQo

Being a scientist

http://planet.atlantides.org/maia/?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=t

The scientific method

Conclude
(Recommend)

Analyze

Hypothesize

Experiment

Hypothesis testing (judging)

Type I Error
Reject when is true

Type II Error
Accept when is not
true (false)

Guilty
when is innocent

Innocent
when is guilty

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mad_scientist...

Investigations & food

Types: epidemiological

http://iparador.wikispaces.com

http://systemsandus.com/2014/08/02/epidemics

http://www.worldpop.org.uk/about_our_work/case_studies

Types: epidemiological

http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com

Types: environmental and food

http://sustainablepurchasing.wikispaces.com

http://www.infectionecologyandepidemiology.net

http://www.intechopen.com

Types: laboratory

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://en.wikipedia.org
http://pixabay.com

Putting all together

Root cause analysis

Procedures

Materials

Measurements

Methods

Problem
Environment

Manpower

Questionnaires

Machines

Validation
The element of verification focused on collecting and evaluating
scientific and technical information to determine whether the
HACCP plan, when properly implemented, will effectively control
the defined hazards.
Validation of
Antimicrobial
Interventions
for Small and Very
Small Processors:
A How-to Guide to Develop
and Conduct Validations
2013. Food protection trends. Vol 33, No. 2, p. 95104

http://commons.wikimedia.org

Calibration
The comparison of a measurement instrument or system of
unverified accuracy to a measurement instrument or system of
known accuracy to detect any variation from the required
performance specification (American Society of Quality).
Precision

Accuracy

Conclusions
Root cause analysis is a useful tool that can help us to organize
information and guide our thinking
Scientific thinking is a useful approach to conduct
investigations and to validate food safety controls
implemented.
Investigations of food outbreaks occur at different levels and
include collecting, and analyzing information using scientific
methods.

For more information

ASQ. 2016. Root Cause Analysis (RCA). Videos. American Society for Quality
(ASQ). http://videos.asq.org/product-category/channel/root-causeanalysis-rca
Vidyasagar. 2016. The art of root cause analysis. Quality Progress
Magazine. January.
CFPVE. 2013. Validation of antimicrobial intervention for small and very
small processors: a how to guide to develop and conduct validations.
Consortium of food process validation experts (CFPVE). Food Protection
Trends. 33 (2): 95-104.
WHO. 2008. Foodborne disease outbreaks: guidelines for investigation and
control. World Health Organization (WHO).