MODULE 5 Follow Up & Assessment Follow Up: A review done by a team member to insure all corrective actions were implemented as stated. Assessment: An independent review to determine if the corrective actions have been effective in preventing recurrence. A review must be conducted in sufficient detail to assess whether the corrective actions that have been implemented are effective as implemented and are truly preventing recurrence of the event. This assures that the outcome of the root cause analysis and corrective action process will achieve the needed result: prevention. Module 5 PW page 1

Start with WHO will follow up on corrective actions. The team isn’t done until someone has been chosen to look after the corrective actions. It doesn’t have to be just one member. A problem with several corrective actions affecting different areas will involve different people. Whoever is selected must buy into the process and the corrective actions. The Questions Were the corrective actions done as stated? Were they done on time? Have they been effective? Effective? The answer to that one may not be obvious. The team should think about how the effectiveness of the corrective actions could be tested or measured. What proof can be shown that the problem has truly been prevented? How are you going to answer the customer’s concerns? Module 5 PW page 2

Are the Corrective Actions Working? NO - Go back in the process and redo it to get the proper results. YES - You’ve Closed the Loop!! If the corrective action that was implemented is not what was proposed, find out why not. If better or alternative corrective actions were applied, they need to be reported. If the corrective actions were in response to an audit, not reporting changes can set you up for another finding. HOWEVER - Don’t forget to do periodic reassessments, if need be. If the problem was serious or you don’t have complete control over implementing your corrective actions you may need to have periodic checks to be sure the corrective actions are still in place and working. If possible, add your check to a review system already in place instead of creating a new review system. Module 5 PW page 3

Identify who will do the follow-up, and list effectiveness measures for the corrective actions shown. Event 4. Oak floor in bedroom was damaged. Causes: C Water bed mattress and liner were leaking. R Short in bed heater burned through the mattress and liner. Corrective Actions: Repaired mattress and liner. Replaced bed heater. Event 5. Parents find large hole in ceiling. Causes: R Kids hid in attic to smoke cigarettes. C Heavy smoke irritated eyes and made it difficult to see. Corrective Actions: Locked attic. Instructed kids not to smoke. Event 3. Car exhaust makes loud noise during acceleration. Causes: C Daughter hit large pot hole. C Muffler was badly rusted. R Hard winter damaged roads Corrective Actions: Replaced muffler. Instructed daughter to try to miss pot holes. Module 5 PW page 4

Using the process for the “Fast Attack” Now that you’ve used the forms to complete the Mill Fire and Arc Welder, you may feel that using this process is a long drawn out affair. Don’t you believe it! In most cases the people that form the natural team are at the scene of the event or can be pulled together quickly. Those team members also have most, if not all of the data needed. Given that, the process can be started on the spot. The process can be used to solve a problem quickly that would normally drag on for days or weeks. The process is excellent at streamlining problem solving and saving time. Experience is the key. The more you use the process the faster you become at it. Once you have gained some confidence in yourself you will begin applying the process on all kinds of problems. Module 5 PW page 5