TS EN 62740

TS EN 62740 is the standard that treats root cause analysis (RCA) as a systematic way of investigating the real reasons behind events, nonconformities, or undesired outcomes. It defines the basic principles on which RCA is built and the steps a process for RCA should include, so the analysis moves beyond visible symptoms and focuses on underlying causes.

The purpose of RCA in technical practice

In general technical use, RCA is aimed at preventing recurrence by tracing a problem through its causal chain rather than stopping at the immediate effect. It is widely used in quality management, maintenance, process improvement, and incident review because a single event often results from several contributing factors. In that context, clear problem definition, data collection, cause separation, and verification are key activities. TS EN 62740 provides a framework that sets out the core elements such a process should include.

What this standard covers

• Defines the basic principles of RCA.
• Specifies the steps that an RCA process should include.
• Aims to make causal evaluation structured and repeatable.
• Supports a common language for quality and improvement activities.

The document offers a methodological basis for problem solving, but it should not be read as a sector-specific test standard or as a prescription for one particular type of equipment or incident. Its value lies in clarifying the shared logic of root cause analysis across disciplines: focus on cause rather than symptom, rely on evidence rather than assumption, and make corrective action more meaningful.