| COURSE ID : WGQS-001 SYSTEMATIC
PROBLEM SOLVING |
| AUTHOR: Fernando Perez |
|
FORMAT: Two 90 minutes online sessions
during a week in a virtual classroom. In addition, a web-collaboration
secure site (SSL) is available for bulletin boards and downloadable
courseware. The Analytical Problem Solving (APS)
free software (during a short period of time) will be available to solve real problems at work
and reduce operations costs. |
| WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Technical and Operations Staff |
| COURSE DESCRIPTION |
|
This Problem Solving distance learning
course
will teach a systematic approach to develop problem solving skills. It shows you how to
organize and analyze information related to a problem, develop and
verify diagnostic theories, and generate effective solutions. These
problem solving techniques are fully
compatible with the 8D Problem Solving approach and meets the
requirements of ISO/TS 16949:2002. |
| ANALYTICAL PROBLEM SOLVING SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION |
|
Learn how Agilent, Delphi
Gates,
INCO, McLane,
Shell, and Toyota, are
so successful at driving down costs. It's simple,
their employees identify, and fix problems faster. Then, when
one group solves a problem,
every other group shares the
results. They don't reinvent the wheel at every location.
How Does
APS Work?
Analyzing the Problem
Problem solving activities begins by identifying the issue
at hand. The user is prompted through a series of logical questions
(what has happened, what is supposed to happen, what are the effects,
who else does this impact, etc.). At each step, the user is prompted for
observations based on facts.
Encouraging Collaboration
APS then leads users to identify other areas in the
company that may be affected by this issue. It invites those functions
to participate. Users work from their perspective to analyze the impact
of the issue and get to the root cause. By sticking to the facts,
participants find they can avoid the conflicts and misunderstandings
that frequently kill many problem-solving committee meetings. When your
teams focus on the facts and build collaboration, they waste less time,
and come up with better solutions for your company.
Actually Solving the Problem
APS helps users come up with creative solutions for each
problem. Any answer is analyzed for impact and costs to the company from
all participants' points of view. The feasibility of any solution is
known before actually trying it.
The Power of Archiving
All issues are archived for later retrieval. You don't
have to rely on someone's memory if the issue comes up later at another
plant. The APS archive is searchable, and the data, logic and supporting
documentation for each issue are included. Even infrequent problems can
be dealt with quickly by checking the archives. You won't have to solve
the same issues over and over. Just check how APS improve your problem
solving strategies.
To learn more about APS click
here...
|
| CONTENT OVERVIEW |
 |
Introductions and team formation |
| |
Problem solving skills are based on a
multidisciplinary approach. Group problem solving is usually conducted
by personnel from functional areas related with the scope of the
problem. |
|
|
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 or root cause analysis |
| |
This is the analytical problem solving stage. The root cause analysis 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. |
|
|
Verification |
| |
The verification activity 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 have identified the root cause (s). Minitab or Excel
will be used in class. |
|
|
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.
Mistake-proof solutions are preferred. |
|
|
Validation and Problem Solving Strategies |
| |
We will examine the results of the implementation to
validate that the customer, technical, process, and product
requirements are satisfactorily met. |
| STUDENT MATERIALS |
|
|
Systematic Problem Solving Techniques Workbook |
|
Systematic Problem Solving Notes |
|
ActivStats for Minitab (optional) |
| HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIRED |
|
PC for each student |
|
Excel or Minitab |
|
APS free software |
| LEARNING METHOD |
|
|
Lecture, teams, case studies, hands-on approach |
| REQUISITES |
|
Background in basic mathematics and
statistics |
|
Candidates must be proficient in Windows
and Microsoft Office environment |
