Finding Solutions for your Problem

You got some severe symptoms that are creating problems for your business which may be your operations or product's performance and/or production. Finding a complete solution can be a difficult, but taking it step by step the following can help get to the real root cause.

Problem Solving Process

1.    Identify the Problem
    a. Most times people are only looking at symptoms
    b. Most times there are multiple contributors to a complex problems.
    c. Is this a problem that needs a solution?

2.    Gather the Data
    a. Look at histograms, pareto charts, ect.
    b. Failure severity
    c. Failure rate
    d. Productivity

3.    Analyze the Data
    a. Zero in on the root cause ( i.e. 5 whys, Cause and effects flow etc.)
    b. Look at secondary problems
    c. Know the financials ROIs and pay back time frame

4.    Generate Solutions
    a. Get inputs from everyone (brainstorming)
    b. Make sure solutions do not create a bigger problem than original problem.

5.    Select solution
    a. Compare the trade offs.
    b. Cost and time frames
    c. Schedule impact
    d. Production impact
    e. Service impact
    f. Sales impact
    g. Performance impact

6.    Plan Implementation
    a. Short term solution
    b. Long term solution
    c. Coordinated transition
   d. What is the criteria for solving the problem (i.e. reduce failure rate, reduced cost, reduced time, meets requirements, increase sales, increase market share, feature works as intended for specific environments, etc)

7.    Implement and test
    a.  Test critical part of solution on a small yet representative part of problem situation, before implementing fully
    b. Does it meet  your pre-determined success criteria

8.    Continue Improvement
    a. Strive to meet ultimate objective
    b. Part improvements
    c. Process improvements
    d. Design improvements