| 
 TapRooT® Friends & Experts e-Newsletter Download e-Newsletter 
  North American Edition
  
August 24, 2010
  
 Thanks for being one of our 42,739 subscribers!  |   
         | 
     
    
         | 
     
    
        
        
        	
            | 
            
            
            
             | 
             | 
            
            
            
            | President's Question |   Dear Readers: I have two topics to consider this week. They both go back to prior questions and are somewhat related. The first topic is about the rewards people get for doing good investigations. Here are the results from my unscientific survey of TapRooT® users: Never received rewards from management for a good investigation: 76%
  Received a verbal "Atta-Boy/Girl" for investigations: 20%
  Received a financial reward for investigations: 4%
  Here's the actual answers for your review: http://www.taproot.com/wordpress/2010/08/05/rewards/I didn't find these statistics surprising.  I also found it interesting that many of the investigators said that performing a good investigation and seeing people's jobs get better (safer) was reward enough. However, if managers want good investigations, shouldn't they be rewarding what they want? Isn't this basic management?  Therefore, one major improvement that management should consider for improving investigations is to start a systematic evaluation of investigations and rewards for good investigations. What do you think? Is this a good idea? Let me know by commenting here: http://www.taproot.com/wordpress/2010/08/23/should-management-reward-investigators-for-good-investigations/The second topic is about what Summit participants have learned from past Summits. You can read the comments here: http://www.taproot.com/wordpress/2010/08/12/summit-recommendations/After I read the comments, I thought: "The Summit could be a reward for good investigations!" Because so many investigators are proud of their ability to help improve performance, what could be a better reward than sending them to a Summit with other like-minded individuals where they can improve their skills and learn new best practices? So take action! If you have some good investigators working for you ... send them to the  Summit in San Antonio (October 27-29) as a reward.  What if you are an investigator who does good investigations? Maybe your boss needs a hint about rewards. Maybe you should forward this newsletter to him/her to read? That's all for this week. Good luck improving performance (and getting rewarded!). Best regards, President  System Improvements, Inc. http://www.taproot.com |  
  | 
         
         
         | 
     
    
         | 
     
    
        
        
        
        
        Investigations and Accidents/Lessons Learned
  |  
            Are you attending the VPPPA Conference in Orlando this week?  If you are, please come by the TapRooT® Booth (#503) and say hello and 
have a chat about root cause analysis.  Mark, Linda, Ken and I (Dave) will all 
be there ( Read more). Construction Fatality in Australia:  PowerPoint presentation about an accident that occurred near Townsville, Australia ( Read more). Canary in a Coal Mine - Managers in China's Coal Mines Haven't Stopped Accidents:  Associated Press reports
 that China's mines have not suddenly become "safe" after China's 
Premier ordered mining managers to go down in the mines with the miners ( Read more). CSB to Investigate Accident that Killed Two Workers at Horsehead Holding Company:  CSB Press Release ( Read more). Tough Criminal Attorney to Head Deepwater Horizon Prosecution:  A Houston Chronical story ( Read more). The Ugly Effects of Budget Cuts:  I was talking to a root cause analyst the other day and he couldn't 
see how budget cuts could cause a major accident (like BP Deepwater 
Horizon or BP Texas City) ( Read more). Rewards:  When was the last time you were rewarded for a good investigation? ( Read more.) Investigation into 
the Derailment of a Passenger Train at East Langton, near Market 
Harborough, Leicestershire, on 20 February 2010:  UK
 Rail Accident Investigation Branch Press Release ( Read more). King Tut Needed Root Cause Analysis:  New research suggests that King Tut was killed by a chariot accident ( Read more). Can You Demonstrate a Strong Safety Culture? "Safety Culture" has been a topic of increasing interest since the term was first used in the report on the Chernobyl accident ( Read more).   |  
 2010 TapRooT® Summit News
  |  
 DATES TO REMEMBERTapRooT® Summit:  October 27-29, 2010Special 2-Day PreSummit Courses:  October 25-26, 2010Live Music/Costume Party:  October 27, 2010TapRooT® 7th Annual Scramble Charity Golf Tournament:  October 29, 2010The Summit Hotel and Host City are:The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, TexasLearn more:  http://www.taproot.com/summit.php  
BEST PRACTICE TRACKS
 
  TESTIMONIALS A first time attendee's thoughts about the Summit:  Are you thinking about registering for the first time?  Hear what someone just like you had to say about his experience ( View video). An attendee shares what he is taking back to his facility from the Summit:  2010 is an extremely important year to catch up!  Get back on the improvement track and create a plan to revolutionize performance at your facility ( View video). IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT SCHEDULING
  Customize your Summit Schedule and Take Your Improvements to New Heights!  Ever attend a conference or training event, and walk away feeling like 
there was one piece of the puzzle that you really needed an answer to 
but you just didn't get?  We want to assure you that you won't feel that
 way about the TapRooT® Summit! ( Read more.)  Which Summit Track is Right for You?  Have you registered for the Summit?  October 27th will be here before you know it, so don't procrastinate! We'll be posting detailed track information every Tuesday and Thursday 
to help you with your decision ( Read more). New this Year:  SPECIAL TOPICS:  You've always had the option to replace any best practice session on your track with a session from another track, but this year you can also choose from a list of special topics to make your track the perfect fit ( Read more). Exclusive 2-Day Courses = Awesome Discounts for Summit Attendees!  Most of these courses are only offered once each year.  Don't miss out! ( View courses.) NETWORKING, KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, AND BEST PRACTICE SESSIONSTapRooT® Summit Returns 170% More Than a Regular Conference - What an Investment!  What conference has 170% more than other conferences? Well then, lets look at each of the percentages for proof ( Read more).   CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
  TapRooT®  Instructors:  Maintain Your Certification:  What
 does it take to maintain your TapRooT® Instructor certification?  Every
 two years you must attend the TapRooT® Summit and one of the pre-Summit
 Courses ( Read more). TRAVEL PLANNING
 
  Summit Travel Planning:  Have you started your planning to attend the  TapRooT® Summit?  Now is the time to plan the trip to get the best airline fares ( Read more). VIDEO:  Why We Chose San Antonio as Host City:  The Westin Riverwalk hotel offers spacious meeting rooms, a well 
laid-out facility that allows attendees to move around without 
bottlenecks and delays, as well as covered terraces where attendees can 
step out of the hotel to make a phone call or review notes while 
enjoying a Riverwalk view ( View video). 2010 Summit:  Enjoy Yourself without Ever Leaving the Conference Hotel:  San Antonio, a city with a vibrant night life, is the host for the 2010 Summit ... but we didn't forget travelers who are content to just relax in the hotel after a busy Summit day ( Read more). Riverwalk Restaurant Reviews:  TapRooT® staff picks:     Schilo's and  Boudro's |  
 
                Attend a 1-Day Software Course
  |   What better way to learn and become proficient at using the new version 5
 TapRooT® software than to attend a 1-Day Software Course?  
  We have 
developed this course as an optional supplement to the normal TapRooT® 
courses, giving the students a chance to learn the ins and outs of the 
software tool.  The course can concentrate on either the Single-User 
software, or (for our licensed clients) we can use your Enterprise 
installation to show you how to customize the global reporting and 
networking functions of the software to make your investigation process 
much more user-friendly.  (Read more.)
  |  
 Win an iPad!
  |  Enter the TapRooT® Best Practice Contest!  Submit your TapRooT® Success Stories to editor@taproot.com (please type "Best Practice Submission" in the subject line) for a chance to win an iPad.
 
  The contest will run six months (deadline:  January 27, 2011, 6:00 p.m.).  All entries will be shared on the Root Cause Analysis blog.  Readers can vote for the Best Practices Success Stories that are most useful to them by simply clicking the "Like" button.  In the event of a tie at deadline, the in house instructors at System Improvements will select the winner by vote.
  Please submit your Best Practice in a Challenge/Actions/Results format.  Here are some examples:
  Ciba Vision
  Canyon Fuel Company
  Rohm & Hass
  Intel
  Enter as many Best Practice Success Stories as you like.  
  Don't forget -- the upcoming TapRooT® Summit is all about best practices, so be sure to enter the ideas you learn and implement at your facility!
  If you need help with your entry, contact editor@taproot.com.
  |  
 Career Development
  |  Employment Opportunities for Candidates with Root Cause Analysis Training
   Penang, Bukit Minyak - Flextronics - Manager Root Cause Failure Analysis (View opening).
  (View more openings.)
  P.S.
 Thinking about registering for a course to add to your personal 
resume?  Our worldwide calendar of public courses can be found at:  http://www.taproot.com/courses.php
  |  
 | Wisdom Quote |   Never assume the obvious is true. ~ William Safire
 
  |  
 
                TapRooT® Around the World
  |  Seattle 5-Day Advanced Root Cause Analysis  Team Leader Course  (View photos). 
 2-Day TapRooT® Incident Investigation  and Root Cause Analysis Course  held Onsite in Portland  (View photos). TapRooT® 3-Day Root Cause Analysis and Equipment Troubleshooting Course in Bogotá ( View photos).  
  |  
 | Don't Wait!  Register for a TapRooT® 
Course |  Don't wait! TapRooT® Courses fill up and have waiting lists - a sign that the economy is picking up.  What courses have filled up lately?  (Read more.)  PUBLIC COURSES IN US AND CANADA 
 2-Day TapRooT® Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis Course 
  Albuquerque, New Mexico - September 16-17
  Boston, Massachusetts - September 21-22
  Vancouver, Canada - September 23-24
  Edmonton, Canada - October 13-14
  Chicago, Illinois - October 14-15
  Gatlinburg, Tennessee - October 20-21
  San Antonio, Texas - October 25-26
  St. John's, Canada - November 3-4
  Denver (Golden), CO - November 16-17
  Toronto, Canada - November 22-23
  Charleston, South Carolina - November 30-December 1
  New Orleans, Louisiana - December 1-2 (Add 1-Day Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting Course!)
  Las Vegas, Nevada - December 6-7 (Add 1-Day Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting Course!)
  Calgary, Canada - December 7-8 (Add 1-Day Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting Course!)
 
 
  
3-Day TapRooT®/Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting and Root Cause Failure Analysis 
  
   St. John's, Canada - November 3-5
  New Orleans, Louisiana - December 1-3
  Las Vegas, Nevada - December 6-8
  Calgary, Canada - December 7-9
 
 
  1-Day
TapRooT®/Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting & Root Cause Failure
Analysis (For previous 2-day/5-day course attendees 
  New Orleans, Louisiana - December 3
  Las Vegas, Nevada - December 8
  Calgary, Canada - December 9
 
  View our worldwide calendar of courses at:
  http://www.taproot.com/courses.php
  |  
 | J.O.K.E. of the Week  |    |  
 
                Editor's Note:  What Are You Wearing to the Summit Costume Reception?
  |  Dear Readers,   Alison (our 2010 Summit planner) and I put our heads together this morning to decide that very important question:
 
 What will we wear to the Summit Costume Reception?Since the Summit is close to Halloween, we are inviting everyone to wear a costume to the Summit reception.   We had some pretty good ideas, including coming as exhausted TapRooT® team members (after all, it will be after a full day of learning at the Summit!).  But we came up with a costume that fits the theme of our event in that the characters we are coming as  have lots of enthusiasm just like our speakers and attendees! So disguise yourself in your best get up and win awesome prizes this year by coming to the reception in costume!   LEARN MORE about the plans for the  Summit Reception! We'll see you at the 2010 Summit!  
  |  
  | 
     
    
        		
        
        
Please feel free to pass this e-Newsletter along to other individuals interested in TapRooT® by clicking on the "Forward email" link at the end of this newsletter.
  Please note that if you are new to this e-Newsletter, we probably added you because we thought that you would like to keep up with the latest TapRooT® and root cause analysis information or you attended a TapRooT® Course.
  If you know others who would like to get this information first hand, send us their e-mail addresses. We'll add them to the distribution.
  When your e-mail address changes - be sure to let us know by e-mailing your new address to info@taproot.com. We don't want to lose you!
  If you would like to STOP receiving this e-Newsletter - just click on the "Safe Unsubscribe" link at the end of this newsletter.
  By the way, we do not sell or share your contact information or e-mail addresses. Oh, and this is **BCBSTAuthorizedemail** (not dreaded S-P-A-M).
  The opinions and information contained in this newsletter are provided in the spirit of cooperation and continued learning. They do not represent any corporation's views. Use the information to help you form your opinions but all risk based on your use of this information is assumed by you and your company.Please feel free to pass this e-Newsletter along to other individuals interested in TapRooT® by clicking on the "Forward email" link at the end of this newsletter. |   		
        
         | 	
     
    
        | 
        
         | 
     
     	
     |