Root Cause Analysis Worksheet

A structured investigation in one place: problem statement, is / is-not, every candidate cause tested against the data, a 5 Whys chain with evidence, the six root cause tests, the escape cause, and a conclusion that reads Not yet until the work is done.

Free to use, change and copy inside your own organization. Editable Excel, plus a fillable PDF you can complete on screen.

The problem it solves

Root cause write-ups often go straight from the symptom to a favorite theory: one chain of whys, no alternatives considered, nothing tested, and an action written against the first plausible answer. When the problem returns, nobody can tell which causes were ruled out and why. This worksheet keeps the whole investigation together: the bounded problem, every candidate cause with its prediction, test and result, the chain of whys with evidence at each step, the tests the root cause must pass, and the escape cause.

Who uses it, and when

Quality engineers, manufacturing engineers and supervisors who lead or review cause investigations. For any nonconformance that needs a corrective action, from the day the problem is contained until the root cause is accepted. Use it inside an 8D at D4, or on its own.

Part of

CAPA Command Kit.

Clause references: 10.2.1 (with 8.7). Clause numbers only; the standards text is not reproduced, use your own licensed copy.

A management aid, not certification or a registrar audit. Using it does not by itself show conformity to AS9100D or any other standard.

Page 1 of the PDF. Every resource includes a worked example.