July 1, 2008
Worksheet DescriptionTitle Page This worksheetExcel Inst Instructions on using Mircrosoft Excel drawing toolsVersions Evolution of this Workbook and contributionsCM Steps Cause Map Steps1. Outline Outline and Problem Definition2. Cause Map The latest Cause Map in the Investigation3. Solutions The Actions Items List (Solutions)PhotosNotesTimelineProcess MapDiagramBox TemplatesCM Samples
Workbook Created: July 1, 2008Template 2008 v2
The following worksheets are contained in this workbook:
This Cause Map Project Workbook was created by:Mark GalleyThinkReliability281-489-2116 cell281-489-2904 office281-489-2905 fax
Version 1
The purpose of this project workbook in Excel is to organize all information related to this issue.
Cause MapProject Workbook
Incident TitleLocation, Date
DRAFTDelete this box and insert your organizations logo here.
ThinkReliability.com - Cause Map Template Copyright 2008
Click here for more information www.thinkreliability.com
Excel 2003 Drawing Tool – Tips and ShortcutsThis tip sheet is for ThinkReliability clients and Cause Mapping users who are using Excel 2003.
1. Removing Grid LinesClick Tools on the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Options. On the view tab, under Window Options uncheck the box next to Gridlines to turn off the gridlines for that worksheet. Click OK.
2. Adding the Drawing ToolbarAdd the Drawing Toolbar by clicking on View/Toolbars. From the different toolbars that appear check Drawing. The Drawing Toolbar, which starts with the word Draw, may appear at the bottom of your Excel screen or directly on the worksheet. It can be moved by left clicking on the vertical line just left of the word Draw. Hold the mouse button down and drag the Drawing toolbar to the desired location.
3. Arrow Cursor - Select Objects There are two cursors in Excel 2003. There is the plus cursor for performing regular functions with the cells and there is an arrow cursor for selecting objects that are located on the worksheet. To select the arrow cursor, left click on the arrow to the right of the word Draw on the Drawing Toolbar.
4. Making a Text BoxThere is a shortcut button for making text boxes on the Drawing Toolbar with a capital A inside of it with small lines. Click on the text box button and release the mouse. Move the cursor, which now looks like a vertical line with a bar toward the bottom, to the spreadsheet. Click and hold the left mouse button to drag a box to the desired size.
5. Box Border – Lines or DotsClicking anywhere on a text box highlights that box with hashed lines on each of the four sides. Clicking on the dashed lines will turn the border into dots. A dotted border is for selecting the entire box. A hashed border shows that the inside of the box has a cursor so that text can be added or edited. Click in the middle of the box or directly on the border to move between a hashed line and dotted border.
6. Sizing BoxesThe dots in the corners and on the sides of the boxes can be dragged with the mouse to make the box smaller or larger. The boxes can also be sized by right clicking on the box to create the hashed line border, then double clicking the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. Under the Size tab, you can set exact vertical and horizontal dimensions. Several boxes can be sized at the same time by selecting multiple boxes.
7. Moving BoxesTo move a box click on the border so that it becomes dotted, hold down the left mouse button and drag the box to the desired location. Once the box has a dotted border, it can also be moved by using the arrows on the keyboard.
8. Selecting Multiple BoxesHold down the shift key and left click on the each box you wish to add to the selection. Multiple boxes can be selected. This multiple selection using the shift key works for selecting any object including lines. You can also select several boxes at a time using the Select Objects function. Click on the arrow to the right of Draw on the Drawing Toolbar, left click on the worksheet and drag the dashed box to contain all the boxes you wish to select. You can then move all of them together by grabbing the dotted border on any one of the boxes.
9. Copying BoxesTo copy a box the border must be dotted. See Tip #5 above.
Here are four basic ways to copy a box:
9-1. Click on the Edit menu, and choose Copy. Then click on the Edit menu and choose Paste.
9-2. Click Ctrl C, then Ctrl V to copy and paste.
9-3. Right click directly on the box border and select Copy from the drop down menu. Then right click again and select Paste.
This last one is the best tip (Great Tip)9-4. Left click directly on the border, hold the mouse down and drag the box to the desired location. Before releasing the left mouse button hold down the Ctrl button on the keyboard. This is known as the Ctrl-Drag copy method. It is typically the fastest way to copy many boxes onto a worksheet.
10. Aligning Text inside a BoxClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Alignment tab, you can align both horizontally and vertically.
11. Changing, Adding, or Removing BordersClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Colors and Lines tab, under Lines, you can select the color for your border (or select No Line for no border). You can also specify the style and weight of your border line.
12. Adding Color to the BoxesClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, you can select the color for the box.
13. Using Connectors (Great Tip)Do not use either the line or the arrow that is displayed on the Drawing Toolbar. Instead, click Auto Shapes on the Drawing Toolbar, and select Connectors with the left mouse button so that the box of nine connectors appears. Move your mouse to the gray horizontal bar at the top of the connector box and hold down your left mouse button and drag the connector box to the Toolbar at the top or bottom of your screen (or just drag it onto your worksheet) and let go of the mouse button. Use the connectors called either the Elbow Connector or the Elbow Arrow Connector.
Connect cause boxes by clicking and holding the left mouse button at the beginning connection point then moving the cursor to the ending connection point and releasing the mouse. The connector end is red when it is connected to a box and green when it is not connected. The green end can be dragged to an object.
14. Aligning BoxesBoxes can be aligned by using the mouse or the arrows on the keyboard as explained in Tip #7. Boxes can also be aligned by selecting two or more boxes (Tip #8) and clicking on Draw on the Drawing Toolbar (Tip #4), then selecting Align or Distribute. You will get a drop down containing Align Left, Center, Right, Top, Middle, and Bottom. Align uses the extreme edge of the selected boxes for the chosen alignment.
15. Moving Boxes in a Straight Line (Great Tip)When moving a box hold down the shift key to move the box only at 90-degree angles: left, right, up or down. The shift button also works when copying something in only a straight line such as with the Ctrl-Drag copy method in Tip #9-4. This is the Shift-Ctrl-Drag method.
16. Zoom-in, Zoom-outZooming in and out can be done by selecting View on the menu bar and then selecting Zoom. Zoom can also be done if you have a wheel on your mouse by holding the Ctrl key down as the wheel is moved forward or backward. If you use the wheel to zoom more often than you use it to scroll on a sheet, you can set the wheel button to zoom instead of scroll. On the Tools menu, click Options, click the General tab, and then select the Zoom on roll with IntelliMouse check box under Settings.
Notes to help you get started. These notes provide some assistance in using the MS Excel Cause Map template and assume that you have already attended the Cause Mapping workshop.
16 Tips for the Drawing Tools in Excel 2003
Excel 2003 Drawing Tool – Tips and ShortcutsThis tip sheet is for ThinkReliability clients and Cause Mapping users who are using Excel 2003.
1. Removing Grid LinesClick Tools on the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Options. On the view tab, under Window Options uncheck the box next to Gridlines to turn off the gridlines for that worksheet. Click OK.
2. Adding the Drawing ToolbarAdd the Drawing Toolbar by clicking on View/Toolbars. From the different toolbars that appear check Drawing. The Drawing Toolbar, which starts with the word Draw, may appear at the bottom of your Excel screen or directly on the worksheet. It can be moved by left clicking on the vertical line just left of the word Draw. Hold the mouse button down and drag the Drawing toolbar to the desired location.
3. Arrow Cursor - Select Objects There are two cursors in Excel 2003. There is the plus cursor for performing regular functions with the cells and there is an arrow cursor for selecting objects that are located on the worksheet. To select the arrow cursor, left click on the arrow to the right of the word Draw on the Drawing Toolbar.
4. Making a Text BoxThere is a shortcut button for making text boxes on the Drawing Toolbar with a capital A inside of it with small lines. Click on the text box button and release the mouse. Move the cursor, which now looks like a vertical line with a bar toward the bottom, to the spreadsheet. Click and hold the left mouse button to drag a box to the desired size.
5. Box Border – Lines or DotsClicking anywhere on a text box highlights that box with hashed lines on each of the four sides. Clicking on the dashed lines will turn the border into dots. A dotted border is for selecting the entire box. A hashed border shows that the inside of the box has a cursor so that text can be added or edited. Click in the middle of the box or directly on the border to move between a hashed line and dotted border.
6. Sizing BoxesThe dots in the corners and on the sides of the boxes can be dragged with the mouse to make the box smaller or larger. The boxes can also be sized by right clicking on the box to create the hashed line border, then double clicking the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. Under the Size tab, you can set exact vertical and horizontal dimensions. Several boxes can be sized at the same time by selecting multiple boxes.
7. Moving BoxesTo move a box click on the border so that it becomes dotted, hold down the left mouse button and drag the box to the desired location. Once the box has a dotted border, it can also be moved by using the arrows on the keyboard.
8. Selecting Multiple BoxesHold down the shift key and left click on the each box you wish to add to the selection. Multiple boxes can be selected. This multiple selection using the shift key works for selecting any object including lines. You can also select several boxes at a time using the Select Objects function. Click on the arrow to the right of Draw on the Drawing Toolbar, left click on the worksheet and drag the dashed box to contain all the boxes you wish to select. You can then move all of them together by grabbing the dotted border on any one of the boxes.
9. Copying BoxesTo copy a box the border must be dotted. See Tip #5 above.
Here are four basic ways to copy a box:
9-1. Click on the Edit menu, and choose Copy. Then click on the Edit menu and choose Paste.
9-2. Click Ctrl C, then Ctrl V to copy and paste.
9-3. Right click directly on the box border and select Copy from the drop down menu. Then right click again and select Paste.
This last one is the best tip (Great Tip)9-4. Left click directly on the border, hold the mouse down and drag the box to the desired location. Before releasing the left mouse button hold down the Ctrl button on the keyboard. This is known as the Ctrl-Drag copy method. It is typically the fastest way to copy many boxes onto a worksheet.
10. Aligning Text inside a BoxClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Alignment tab, you can align both horizontally and vertically.
11. Changing, Adding, or Removing BordersClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Colors and Lines tab, under Lines, you can select the color for your border (or select No Line for no border). You can also specify the style and weight of your border line.
12. Adding Color to the BoxesClick on the box to create the hashed line border. Then double click the hashed line border with the left mouse button to pull up a format box. On the Colors and Lines tab, under Fill, you can select the color for the box.
13. Using Connectors (Great Tip)Do not use either the line or the arrow that is displayed on the Drawing Toolbar. Instead, click Auto Shapes on the Drawing Toolbar, and select Connectors with the left mouse button so that the box of nine connectors appears. Move your mouse to the gray horizontal bar at the top of the connector box and hold down your left mouse button and drag the connector box to the Toolbar at the top or bottom of your screen (or just drag it onto your worksheet) and let go of the mouse button. Use the connectors called either the Elbow Connector or the Elbow Arrow Connector.
Connect cause boxes by clicking and holding the left mouse button at the beginning connection point then moving the cursor to the ending connection point and releasing the mouse. The connector end is red when it is connected to a box and green when it is not connected. The green end can be dragged to an object.
14. Aligning BoxesBoxes can be aligned by using the mouse or the arrows on the keyboard as explained in Tip #7. Boxes can also be aligned by selecting two or more boxes (Tip #8) and clicking on Draw on the Drawing Toolbar (Tip #4), then selecting Align or Distribute. You will get a drop down containing Align Left, Center, Right, Top, Middle, and Bottom. Align uses the extreme edge of the selected boxes for the chosen alignment.
15. Moving Boxes in a Straight Line (Great Tip)When moving a box hold down the shift key to move the box only at 90-degree angles: left, right, up or down. The shift button also works when copying something in only a straight line such as with the Ctrl-Drag copy method in Tip #9-4. This is the Shift-Ctrl-Drag method.
16. Zoom-in, Zoom-outZooming in and out can be done by selecting View on the menu bar and then selecting Zoom. Zoom can also be done if you have a wheel on your mouse by holding the Ctrl key down as the wheel is moved forward or backward. If you use the wheel to zoom more often than you use it to scroll on a sheet, you can set the wheel button to zoom instead of scroll. On the Tools menu, click Options, click the General tab, and then select the Zoom on roll with IntelliMouse check box under Settings.
Version Date Type Description
Time Duration Update By Contributors
ProblemStep 1.
AnalysisStep 2.
SolutionsStep 3.
Cause Mapping - 3 Steps
Identify the Goals Impacted
Identify the Causes
Identify the Actions Items
Comprehensive InvesitgationThe 3 basic steps of Cause Mapping are done for every investigation, though the level of detail is dependent on the impact to the goals. On some issues it may be helpful to incorporate the additional tools above into the Cause Mapping process:
1. Write the Problem Outine (CM Step 1.)2. Develop a timeline3. Begin building the Cause Map (CM Step 2.)4. Review/Capture the work processes involved with this issue (Move between 2, 3 and 4 as needed to capture all relevant information)5. Identify specific actions to be taken to improve the existing work processes (CM Step 3.)
Cause Mapping is a visual, systems-based approach that focuses on fundamental cause-and-effect relationships supported with evidence. The three basic steps of Cause Mapping are shown below.
Additional Tools- Timeline- Diagrams/Photos- Processes
Cause Mapping Summary
Safety Goal Impacted Effect/Cause Effect/Cause
Cause
Evidence:
Possible Solutions:
Effect/Cause
Effect/Cause
AND
Step 1. Define the Problem
What Problem(s)
When Date
Time
Different
Where Physical Location
Unit, Process, Equipment
Work Being Done
Impact to the GoalsSafety
Environmental
Cust. Service
Production-Schedule
Materials, Labor
This incident
Frequency
Annual Total
Safety Goal Impacted
Customer Goal Impacted
Environmental Goal
Impacted
Step 2. Cause Map
Matls/Labor Goal
Impacted
Production Goal
Impacted
AND
OR
Possible Solutions:
Evidence:
CauseEffect
Why?
Start on the left with the red boxes - these are the Goals that were negatively impacted. The Cause Map reads to the right by asking WHY? questions.
3. SolutionsCorrective Actions to be taken from this Incident that are Causally Related
No. Cause Action Item Owner Due Date Status Completed123
NOTE: Since solutions control specific causes every action item (solution) should correspond to a specific cause from the Cause Map. This provides continuity in the analysis. Every cause on the Cause Map does not need to be solved. Only those causes with action items (solutions) are listed in this table.
Insert any pictures on this worksheet. Use text boxes to create lables.
Photos
Notes
Date Time Description
Process
Process Map
Diagram
Use the drawing tools to add any diagram to this worksheet.
Cause
Possible Solutions:
Evidence:
YES
NO
Copy the Boxes from this Worksheet as needed
Cause Map & Process Map Templates, Examples
Process Step Process Step
Process Step
Effect A
Effect B
Cause XCause X
Cause Y
AND
Effect
Cause XCause
Cause
AND
Evidence:
Evidence:
Decision
Causes Support with Evidence
EX: Both Causes are required to product the effect
Cause Produces Two Effects
EX: One cause has two separate effects
Effect
Effect
Cause XCause
Cause with 2 Separate Connectors
EX: X and Y are both required to cause B, but only X is required for A
Cause with 3 Separate Connectors
EX: Y causes A, B, and C. W and X are also required to produce A. Z is also required for C to occur.
Effect B
Effect C
Cause XCause Y
Cause Z
AND
Cause W
Cause XEffect A
AND
AND
Process Maps Example
Object fell
Object struck person
Person in path
Cut Finger
Overdrew Checking Acct
Knife Contacted
Finger
Finger in PathMethod of
Holding Tomato
Knife Slipped
Insufficient Funds (-$100)
$400 was the balance
$500 was taken out
?
?
800 Calls come in per hour
Average call takes 4 minutes
Heat
Fire
Fuel
Oxygen
AND
AND
AND
AND
AND
Cause Map Examples
Average of 3200 call
minutes per hour Demand
Call response can't meet demand
5 People are available to answer calls
AND
3000 minutes per hour Available
AND
Fracture
Applied stress exceeded allowable strength
Allowable strength
Applied stress
AND
Safety Goal Impacted
InjurySafety Goal
Impacted
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