Data Analysis and Improvement
Problem statement
The problem statement objective is to organize the information that justifies the root cause analysis. During this stage the technical terminology plays a key role to ensure that all members of the problem solving team receive the same message.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis task uncovers the root cause, not the precipitating or remote cause. In the cause-effect chain, we define precipitating causes as the causes usually closer to the effect and remote causes as the causes remotely responsible for the effect. The following example describes these concepts:
“An explosion (precipitating cause) may have caused a fire (the effect). The gas leak that caused the explosion (a remote cause) was the result of a defective gas pipe (root cause), which was installed several years ago.”
Verification
The verification activity of the problem solving techniques takes place before we invest valuable resources in the solution generation. The verification tools ensure that we provide an objective, immediate, qualified, and timely confirmation that we identified the root cause (s).
Solution generation
This is the creative phase to develop several possible solutions. It is also a preventive task that contributes to avoid new problems. Once the best solution is selected, we will look at the system and thoroughly review its application to other processes.
Validation
We examine the results of the implementation to validate that the customer, technical, process, and product requirements are satisfactorily met.
When the project is complete, your organization will have…
- A fully trained selected personnel
- Internal problem solving capability
- A profitable, permanent and practical solution
