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Root Cause Analysis and Structured Problem Solving

South African manufacturers and service providers often close out defects with quick fixes that mask the real cause, so problems return within weeks and rework costs climb. This course teaches structured problem solving methods, including 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, and is/is not analysis, so teams can identify true root causes, agree effective corrective actions, and stop recurring failures before they reach customers or auditors.

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What you will be able to do

  • Explain the difference between symptoms, causes, and root causes in a manufacturing or service context.
  • Apply structured tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, and is/is not analysis to real workplace problems.
  • Facilitate a root cause investigation with a cross functional team without assigning blame.
  • Develop corrective actions that address root causes rather than symptoms.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of a corrective action using follow up data.
  • Document a root cause investigation in a format suitable for internal audits and customer reviews.

Course outline

  1. 01Symptoms Versus Root Causes
  2. 02The 5 Whys Technique
  3. 03Fishbone and Cause Mapping
  4. 04Is/Is Not Problem Definition
  5. 05Facilitating Cross Functional Investigations
  6. 06Verifying Root Causes With Data
  7. 07Writing Effective Corrective Actions
  8. 08Tracking and Closing Out Actions

Who should attend

This course is designed for quality officers, production supervisors, maintenance technicians, and continuous improvement coordinators who investigate recurring defects and nonconformances.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
28 to 29 Oct 2026Johannesburg2R10,000Register
29 to 30 Oct 2026Cape Town2R10,000Register
2 to 3 Nov 2026Durban2R10,000Register
3 to 4 Nov 2026Pretoria2R10,000Register
4 to 5 Nov 2026Windhoek2US$1,100Register
5 to 6 Nov 2026Gaborone2US$1,100Register
9 to 10 Nov 2026Maseru2US$1,100Register
10 to 11 Nov 2026Mbabane2US$1,100Register
11 to 12 Nov 2026Lusaka2US$1,100Register
12 to 13 Nov 2026Harare2US$1,100Register
16 to 17 Nov 2026Lilongwe2US$1,100Register
17 to 18 Nov 2026Blantyre2US$1,100Register
18 to 19 Nov 2026Mozambique2US$1,100Register
19 to 20 Nov 2026Nairobi2US$1,100Register
23 to 24 Nov 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100Register
24 to 25 Nov 2026Kigali2US$1,100Register
25 to 26 Nov 2026Kampala2US$1,100Register
26 to 27 Nov 2026Accra2US$1,100Register
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Lagos2US$1,100Register
1 to 2 Dec 2026Cairo2US$1,100Register
2 to 3 Dec 2026Mauritius2US$1,100Register
3 to 4 Dec 2026Dubai2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Dec 2026Online2US$900Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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