Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

For more than 40 years, AVT Reliability BV (formerly Van Geffen Reliability) has been trusted for reliable, worldwide root cause analysis across many applications.

Production operators, OEMs, service companies, shipyards, and insurers rely on our investigations of failed rotating and static equipment, particularly when accuracy, traceability, and impartiality are essential.

A Root Cause Analysis is conducted to prevent recurrence by identifying and addressing the true root cause of a failure, not just the symptoms.

RCA is typically used as a reactive method, performed after an event has occurred, to determine the causal chain and define corrective actions.

AVT Reliability’s RCA service follows a structured, evidence-led approach, combining technical expertise with operational knowledge to produce clear conclusions and practical corrective actions.

Principles of our RCA service

• Following a systematic analysis process
• Using a cross-functional team, including technical specialists with asset and industry knowledge
• Detailed visual inspection of failure information, including preserved components
• Interviewing staff with knowledge of the failure and the operation and maintenance of the equipment, including end users, OEMs, and maintenance technicians
• Analysis of operating and maintenance data
• Applying structured RCA methods appropriate to the investigation
• Reporting the RCA process, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations
• Close interaction with the client to support resolution and implementation of findings

• Bearing damage analysis
• Detailed visual inspections
• FEA simulations
• Coupling and shaft failures, including fracture analysis
• Torsional vibration analysis
• Torque and power measurements
• Motion Amplification surveys
• General component failures, such as impeller or plunger cracking or fracture,
  typically involving a combination of measurement, inspection, and simulation techniques

Our experience plays a decisive role in Root Cause Analysis studies. Having been involved in thousands of investigations, we bring a broad and well-calibrated frame of reference to every project.

Projects range from condition measurements on large numbers of drives in petrochemical plants to thermal growth and dynamic movement measurements on turbine-driven compressor units. This depth of exposure allows us to clearly distinguish between normal operating behaviour and conditions that indicate underlying failure mechanisms.

As a result, during RCA studies we are often able to identify the most relevant investigative path early in the process, improving efficiency and reducing time to resolution.