Problem Solving in layman's terms

No matter how big or small a business may be there will always be problems encountered along the way. Little issues can cause big problems if not dealt with but the answers are not always obvious. This is where problem solving techniques prove their effectiveness. Maybe some of you have heard of things like the 8D technique which was developed by Ford and is now being implemented in many companies around the world. 8D training is widely available but may not make a great deal of sense when the "Expert" has finished the training sessions and isn't there to help anymore.



I see the benefits of structured problem solving techniques every day. I have been working in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Sectors for several years and I currently work in the field of Quality Control so I have more experience with problem solving than I could begin to explain. I have found that it makes a lot of sense to follow a set plan when trying to identify the root cause of your issues, but there also needs to be flexibility. You must also keep an open mind because the answer may not be what you would have expected.

The biggest problem that I have found with problem solving techniques is that the terminology can be very frustrating for those who don't work with it on a daily basis and this causes problems when trying to get an investigation off the ground with a new team. By definition a team should should include representatives from all relative operations affecting the product or process and it becomes obvious that managers and engineers are so much more familiar with the outlay than shop floor workers. This will eventually cause friction in the group when some feel that progress is too slow and others feel it is all moving too fast to keep up with.

Never let it be said that shop floor workers are stupid. To think that would be a fundamental mistake and is really a clear indication of a much bigger problem within a business environment which will need to be rectified before disaster strikes. In every company with multiple levels of employment you will be able to witness clear division between the suits and the grunts. I am stuck somewhere in the middle which is the worst possible place to be. As a quality controller I have need to liase with both and, more often than not, translate between the two very different ways of thinking.

I am currently in the process of writing a training / informational ebook on the best approach to problem solving for anyone and everyone, to bridge the gaps and fill in the blanks, and ultimately to help all business operatives to help themselves find a way through their problems. We all want to succeed and the only way to do that is teamwork.

If you are interested in the end product or even if you have any issues regarding problem solving techniques please feel free to contact me at deiscorpus@yahoo.co.uk