I’ve been using RealityCharting since 2007 on problem solving efforts touching all aspects of the aerospace industry including in-service, supplier quality, engineering, facility, and large-scale systems integration / installation issues. I’m impressed with the outstanding support and service I’ve personally received over the years along with their ongoing commitment to always improving the software. Easy to use tool with extraordinary results!

Pro: So many ‘Pro’s’ but I will limit my comments to just two: 1. RealityCharting drives me to consider solutions I otherwise might have missed: If I follow the process behind the Apollo Root Cause Analysis methodology and ensure that I map both the Actions that contributed to the problem as well as the Conditions that existed that allowed those actions to happen… it forces me to take my problem down two very different cause paths. In turn, each of these paths provide opportunities for very different types of solutions; solutions I may have missed without the use of a tool that walks me step by step through the problem solving process. 2. RealityCharting as a Project Management Tool: The Cause Map generated from using RealityCharting provides me with the most comprehensive way to visually pull a very large project together. When I’m mapping out the many contributors to a horizontal stabilizer or pressure dome issue and have my team investigating everything from detail supplier, tier-one assembly supplier, transportation, and my own installation processes – it’s easy to lose track of where you are and how these seemingly unrelated efforts all tie in to helping me eliminate my problem. RealityCharting helps me manage my complex problems in a very visual way.

From someone who began Cause-Mapping without a robust tool – I’ve found there to be no ‘con’ in RealityCharting. It makes my job so much easier that it’s difficult to find any flaw. One recommendation would be to include the ability to map Potential Solutions directly onto my CauseMap.

I have found the software to be easy to use after a very short time with it, and while there are a few enhancements I woulds like to see the current version is very stable and has not crashed or given me any problems. I find that it follows the process very closely and there is really no need to learn anything new just to document a problem. Those that have reviewed the standard reports, I provide from the software, have never come back with additional requests for information, so it appears to satisfy the needs of my readers.

There are a lot of great features within this package such as: It is very easy to put a lot of causes on a chart very quickly. This can be helpful if your building a chart in front of a group. The brainstorming section makes it simple and quick to transfer causes off of a manual chart because you just type and enter. After capturing them it is a simple process to drag and drop them into the main program. The software has many customization items that can be turned on or off depending on my preferences and I especially like the ability to add my own items to the problem definition since problem solving is slightly different for everyone. I also like the ability to choose the colors for the different types of causes because it helps me quickly see where I might be deficient in the process. The ability to link documents to causes for reference or evidence makes it easy to check things after an analysis is complete and the whole package with references can be emailed to others The Rules check helps me make sure I have fulfilled all of the requirements of the process but also allows me to bypass things since it isn't always cut and dried I like the way the software takes all of the information I have put in and turns it into a report that is usually 95% complete and needs very little input to finish off. This saves me from having to generate another report. Lastly I like the solution assessment function because it is objective instead of subjective

It doesn't integrate a time line directly into the software that can be used to get a jump start on the diagram, while not anything that would keep me from using it it would be nice to have. There is no way to cut and paste an email list into the team member info. Again not a big deal just that many times you have sent a list to team members and it would be nice to not have to reenter the data.

We have been able to understand and solve many problems related to large ship diesel engines using this tool. Also other potensial problem has been discoverd and solved even before they have taken place.

The way of thinking is a bit new but indied easy to adapt. Also easy to get started with the software.

Peoples often say it takes to long time using RealityCaharting, but it is not the way of thinking or the software that takes time, it is the case itself that are complicated.

This is a foundational methodology and product for any root cause analysis. It is quickly learned, effective and efficient. The software provides good flexibility for the analyst. It graphically portrays the causes and the fact that there is no one “root cause.” I and other analysts found that it opened avenues for investigation quickly. It is so logical that the analyst(s) can see holes in the evidence, or causal paths that need to be mined. The involved and affected workers are present for each session, and I found that for the most part the method opened them up to tell the analyst what really happened, and what the background was. It is also a good means to bring management, experts or other analysts on board into the ongoing investigation and analysis. It also clearly shows when management does not want to follow some particular causal path. At our site we selected an experienced, independent manager to oversee each analysis, and this method enabled our analysts to convey status, intermediate results and problems easily. If done correctly, corrective actions will be easily developed and evaluated as to whether or not they will actually prevent recurrence. When you are done, you have a solid package for management to review. An added bonus is that it is so foundational and thorough that it provides an excellent crosscheck for any other causal analysis methods, for instance barrier or change, that management or oversight personnel might require to be used.

Quickly learned. Logical. Involves the affected and involved personnel, and historically they understand and appreciate the analyses. Makes it easy to bring in another analyst either to help or take over as required in the case of an emergency. Excellent tool for keeping management and oversight up to speed on the progress of the analysis. That greatly speeds final approval by management and oversight. The analyst is required to identify the evidence that supports each causal block. The product is indisputable when complete. The analysis team and management can discuss when a causal path appears non-productive.

NONE. No cons. When the facility manager directed that his involved personnel be made available and cooperate with the analyst, a full RCA and final draft of an event that initially looked like personnel error by two experienced electricians new to the facility was complete in a week. It determined that procedures did not match cabinet markings, that the errors had been in place for quite a while, etc., and that the electricians were set up to fail. The word quickly got out among the workers that this Reality Charting process is fair and accurate.

I have consistently utilized the software for significant quality issues (both internal and external to the organization). Using the Apollo Root Cause Methodology that is the backbone of the software an organization will be able to prevent issues from reoccurring. Additionally the support that I have received from the company is quick, thorough, and second to none. This is one piece of software that every company should have to support continuous improvement infrastructure in their organizations.

The software provide an easy to use interface that is supported through easy step-by-step examples to get you up and running in the shortest amount of time. The online videos and RealityCharting Learning Center functionality is a definite plus for new users to gain skills quickly to reduce learning curve duration. The software provides contextual help to guide you along the path to create a robust root cause analysis and counter measures to prevent event based problems from reoccurring. The software supports both PC and Mac version that are consistently the same, which is a big plus for multiple platform environments. A big plus is the wizard feature that provides transparency for the overall project progress. Software menus provide easy navigation to various functionality elements of the Apollo Root Cause Analysis methodology. If you are looking for a robust system methodology for problem solving this software provides the structure necessary analyze event based problems in a novel way that yields real win solutions to prevent recurrence of the problem.

I have been using the software for 10+ years and it is mature from a functionality perspective. As such I can not say that I have any cons regarding the software.