Root cause analysis (RCA) is often treated as a basic corrective action step, yet weak or incomplete RCA remains one of the most frequent findings during food safety audits.
When the true cause of a non-conformity is not fully understood, the same issue tends to return, costing time, trust, and compliance.
A review of recent BRCGS observations highlights that many businesses either skip RCA entirely or submit only surface-level responses. As a result, the opportunity to implement lasting improvements is lost, and problems reappear in future audits.
What Goes Wrong in Root Cause Analysis
???? No Defined Approach
RCA is carried out inconsistently due to a lack of internal procedure or methodology.
???? Focus on Immediate Symptoms
Corrective actions address what went wrong, but not why it happened.
???? Ineffective Follow-Up
Without validation, preventive measures may fail to stop recurrence.
???? Incomplete Records
Lack of supporting evidence makes it difficult to demonstrate system-level improvement.
Certima’s Mission
As an impartial certification body, Certima assesses compliance with international food safety measures. While Certima does not provide operational guidance, audits serve as a valuable tool for businesses looking to evaluate their fraud prevention strategies and supply chain integrity.
Share Your Approach, Is your organisation closing the loop or repeating the same issues?
We invite you to share how your team approaches root cause analysis and long-term corrective action.