Program Overview

Basics of Root Causes Analysis (RCA)

A Lean Office Tool

The Basics of Root Causes Analysis (RCA) course is designed to introduce students to the benefits of incorporating root cause analysis in problem solving. This introductory course covers foundational concepts that distinguish root causes from symptoms of negative effects and provides a practical application experience to foster the ability to conduct RCA with a team of subject matter experts.

Course Description

The course describes the three types of causes (physical, human, latency) and various approaches to conducting RCA (apollo, cause mapping, fishbone diagrams, five whys tool). It also covers the criteria for choosing one approach over another, with specific emphasis given to the five whys tool. Interactive class exercises give participants the opportunity to practice RCA.

General Information

• All classroom dates meet for 2.5 hours unless otherwise noted.
• Registration for all classes closes one week prior to their start date.
• Online registration is available for most courses.

Quick Facts

• Course length: 2.5 hours
• Prerequisites: None
• Instructor: Brian deFonteny
• Next offered: Fall 2025
• Cost: $275.00
• Location: Tinker Business and Industrial Park or onsite at the client's location
• Minimum class size: 5-person minimum for a class to make

Course Credits

Participants receive Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits, which are required to maintain many professional licensures. OULI training also qualifies as PDU credits for Project Management Professionals.

Training Locations

Public classes are held at the Tinker Business Industrial Park. The Lean Institute also offers private or contracted training programs onsite at locations across the state.

OU Lean Institute Instructors

The OU Lean Institute's team of instructors and consultants are practicing experts in the field with extensive history in implementing process improvement efforts and coaching students.

Brian deFonteny

deFonteny is the creator of Leading with Lean and other short courses offered by the OU Lean Institute. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, deFonteny has more than a decade of experience as a Lean practitioner, coach, and instructor.

Joyce Hinton

Hinton is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has served as an OULI Lean Six Sigma coach, instructor, and consultant for many of the Institute’s major clients.

Teresa Tobias

Tobias is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt trained by some of the original consultants in the industry.

Larry Fisher

Fisher is the Center Process Manager for Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2), Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB. He coordinates continuous improvement mentoring and training for 35,000+ Airmen. As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt, he is an instructor and facilitates multi-organizational improvement events, mentors, and coaches those utilizing CI2 techniques and seeking LSS Green Belt/Black Belt certifications.