International Paper operates in more than 150 countries and is one of the world’s largest producers of fiber-based packaging, pulp, and paper. With over 38,000 employees and hundreds of facilities worldwide, the company plays a critical role in global supply chains—from e-commerce packaging to hygiene products.

Within this vast and complex organization, Scott Wiebold is leading a transformation. When he first encountered the logic tree methodology for root cause analysis, it fundamentally reshaped how he approached problem-solving.

“I thought I was good at RCA,” he says. “Then I started using the logic tree—and realized I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.”

That insight stayed with him and is now sparking a transformation at International Paper. Serving as the company’s Root Cause Failure Analysis Subject Matter Expert, Wiebold is on a mission to help plants across the organization build sustainable, evidence-based RCA systems.

EasyRCA became the platform that helped him do it at scale.

A Roadblock to Reliability

Wiebold’s early attempts to teach and implement the logic tree method revealed a critical obstacle at International Paper: the process was too cumbersome for some teams.

“Before EasyRCA, we were building logic trees in Visio or PowerPoint and keeping our evidence in a separate Excel file,” Wiebold explains. “It worked—but it was clunky. That became a real roadblock. Some people just didn’t have the time to manage all those tools.”

Despite the proven value of logic trees for uncovering systemic root causes, adoption stalled. “They’d say, ‘I’d love to use this method, but it’s just too much work.’”

That changed when EasyRCA was introduced.

Purpose-Built RCA Software That Removes Friction

“EasyRCA completely removed that roadblock,” Wiebold says. “It’s a tool built specifically for root cause analysis. Everything’s in one place—logic trees, evidence, photos, action items. It’s all right there at your fingertips.”

The result? Wider adoption across the organization—and better analyses.

“We’re seeing people uncover root causes they never would have found using traditional methods. They’re coming to me and saying, ‘I didn’t think I could do this, but now I see what was missing before.’”

That ease of use has also allowed International Paper to expand the use of RCA beyond mechanical failures. “We’re now applying EasyRCA to safety events, environmental incidents, even operational challenges,” Wiebold says. “Anywhere we see an undesirable event, we’re using it to dig deeper and drive improvement.”

A Scalable Strategy for a Distributed Enterprise

With over 200 facilities and a constantly changing workforce, International Paper needed more than just a tool—they needed a system that would sustain itself.

“We started with a strong implementation plan,” Wiebold says. “Training, communication, and support were key. The team at Reliability.com helped with the initial rollout, but we’re now building internal expertise at every facility.”

That decentralization of RCA skills has proven crucial for long-term success. “We’ve created a structure where every plant has access to someone who knows how to use EasyRCA well—and that means we’re building a culture of learning and analysis across the organization.”

Visibility, Accountability, and Action

Beyond ease of use, Wiebold highlights several key features that have improved RCA effectiveness:

• Task assignment and tracking: “If someone needs to verify a hypothesis, you can create a task right in the tool. They get an email, and you can see exactly what’s been completed or is overdue.”

• Corrective action management: “You can trace your action items directly to the systemic roots. It keeps everything connected and accountable.”
  
• Automated summary writing: “There’s an AI feature that generates a draft summary of findings. You can edit it, but it saves a ton of time—especially for engineers who don’t love writing.” [[INSERT Video Short]]

• Visual clarity: “The output is clean and clear. You can pull up a logic tree and see everything that was considered, proven false, or led to a root cause. It’s more powerful than any executive summary.”

Results That Matter

International Paper has seen a marked improvement in the quality and consistency of its RCAs since adopting EasyRCA.

[[INSERT “Better Quality” Video Short]]

“We’re definitely seeing benefits—better work, more thorough analyses, and faster turnaround,” Wiebold says. “People are actually completing more RCAs and doing them well. That’s the win.”

While time savings were a pleasant surprise, the primary business case centered on quality. “Our pitch wasn’t about speed—it was about improving how we analyze and solve problems. And EasyRCA has delivered on that.”

Advice for Other Organizations

If you’re considering EasyRCA for your organization, Wiebold recommends building a clear business case.

“I created a simple PowerPoint: here are the roadblocks, and here’s how EasyRCA removes them. Then I laid out an execution plan—how we’d train, how we’d support users, how we’d keep it sustainable.”

The key, he says, is focusing on the value of better analysis. “We didn’t promise cost savings. We promised higher-quality RCAs. And we’ve seen that in spades.”

Looking Ahead: AI and the Future of RCA

Wiebold sees a future where tools like EasyRCA go even further to support new reliability professionals. “Imagine hitting a button and getting a list of hypotheses for how this specific motor can fail,” he says. “For experienced engineers, that’s intuitive—but for new hires, it’s a game-changer.”

He’s encouraged by EasyRCA’s direction. “They’re listening to people like me, making improvements, and constantly evolving the platform. That’s exactly what we need.”

Final Words: A Learning Mindset

For Wiebold, success in root cause analysis—and in reliability leadership—comes down to mindset.

“Every organization has system issues you don’t know about yet. That’s why RCA matters. If you approach it with a learning mindset, you’ll uncover things that make a real difference.”

And for those who feel like RCA is too complex or out of reach? “You can get better,” he says. “Root cause analysis, leadership, public speaking—whatever it is, you can improve. You just have to put in the effort.”

EasyRCA is helping organizations like International Paper build a culture of effective problem solving and continuous improvement. Learn more about EasyRCA or book a demo to see how it can work for your team.