8D Problem Solving Strategy

100 seconds presentationQITC

Sania TufailFa-10-149

The 8 Disciplines of Problem Solving

• Structured approach to continuously improve quality

• popularized by Ford Motor Company as Global 8D

• Eliminate route cause• And prevent their reoccurrences

D1- Assemble the Team

• Determine the personnel required for the resolution of the current issue.

• Generally, a cross-functional team works best, but it’s more important to ensure the correct people are on your team than it is to have a true cross-functional team.

• Determine your team’s leader.

D2- Define the Problem

• Provide as much detail regarding the current issue.

• Writing an outstanding problem statement is critical to the success of problem solving efforts.

D3- Implement and Verify Interim Containment Actions (ICAs)

• Determine the impact of the customer’s issue within your organization.

• Identify all possible suspect material and segregate that material for further review.

• List the date codes, lot numbers, etc. that are considered suspect.

• Determine a method that clearly shows the customer that all product shipped from this date was inspected and known to be acceptable.

D4- Identify and Verify Root Cause• D4 is the important and most difficult step of the 8 disciplines of problem

solving.• The team investigates the problem and begins to develop theories

regarding where and how this issue occurred. • Common methods for root cause analysis are: Data Mining,Pareto Charts,

Brainstorming Fishbone Diagram (also known as an Ishikawa Diagram or Cause and Effect Diagram)

• Also in the D4 step, team determines the “escape point,” that is, where in your process did this issue fail to get identified.

• As the process is followed backwards, it identify the location within your system that the root cause should have been identified but wasn’t.

• The team must be able to verify that they have indeed identified both the root cause and the escape point, and be able to take action upon the root cause.

• Returning to the process, the team should be able to make the issue come and go at will, indicating verification of root cause.

D5- Choose and Verify Permanent Corrective Actions (PCAs)

• After verifying the root cause, the team assembles to generate potential PCAs.

• The team will consider topics such as: customer satisfaction, cost, elimination of the root cause, and others when attempting to choose the best PCA from the list of potential PCAs.

D6- Implement and Validate PCAs

• Use the selected PCA from D5. Implement this solution.

• Like in D4, the team should be able to make the problem come and go at will by alternately applying and removing the PCA.

• Continue to measure the process to ensure effectiveness.

D7- Prevent Recurrence

• Sustain the Gains! Regularly follow up on the process measures, again to ensure effectiveness and prevent backsliding.

• Update all documentation in your Quality Management System.

• Mistake-proof the process if possible. • Identify any potential areas where the same

issue could occur and implement the same or similar PCA in those areas.

D8- Recognize the Efforts of the Team

• D8 is the most underutilized of the steps in the 8 disciplines of problem solving.

• While most companies will obtain formal sign-offs for the 8D structure, some fail to commend the team participants for the excellent work they accomplished.

• It is through this feedback that the team members feel appreciated, making them likely participants for the next issue (when it develops).

Thanks.