Problem Solving Articles

In the automotive industry, identifying and resolving non-conformities is key to ensuring product quality and reliability. According to the latest statistics from the International Automotive Task Force (IAFT), the top ten largest non-conformities concern areas such as problem solving (9.43%), non-conformity and corrective action management (7.42%), manufacturing process output design (4.21%) and measurement system analysis (MSA, 3.30%). Other areas of non-conformity include the Control Plan (3.24%), Contingency Plan (3.20%), production process monitoring and measurement (2.76%), production control (2.64%), customer specific requirements (CSR, 2.58%) and calibration verification records (2.48%). These data highlight the areas on which the automotive industry must focus its efforts to improve compliance and, consequently, product quality.

Have you ever had a problem that kept recurring? Having to deal with a problem or failure mode more than once is a waste of time and valuable resources. The problem is that the root cause is not identified or addressed. If you do not get to the root cause, then you are simply treating a symptom of the problem.

The 8D method is a quality management tool that allows an inter-functional team to convey ideas to scientifically determine the causes of particular problems and provide effective solutions.