Root Cause Analysis – A Simple Example of the SSQA Style:

Floor cleaning utensils placed on a food handling table could have a root-cause that is not corrected by simply re-training the operator to follow good hygiene practices. Suppose the operator inappropriately placed the floor cleaning utensils due to a hurried work activity, what could cause such a hurried work activity? What could cause what caused the hurried work activity, etc.?  What if the operator acted in that manner because he or she has not been properly motivated to consistently follow the rules about good practices? What could have caused the improper motivation? What could cause what caused the improper motivation? This style of thinking is typical of SSQA managers.

SSQA Managers critically view incidences that may appear insignificant. They understand that incidences that may appear to have straight-forward causes require thorough assessment and investigation. The SSQA manager knows that seemingly insignificant issues sometimes have hidden causes with the potential of causing significant setbacks to an operation. Knowledge, experience and expertise through the adoption of the SSQA concept help managers dig deeper to the root causes of detected issues. This way of thinking and the associated problem-solving techniques are driven by the SSQA implementation step 5 (FACTS).

Posted By Felix Amiri

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Felix Amiri is the current Food Sector Chair of GCSE-Food & Health Protection