Course Description
In manufacturing, things sometimes interfere with production or reduce the quality of products.  They may be short- or long-term issues. This course is about solving such issues, or potential problems.  First, however, it is useful to have a clear understanding of what a problem is and is not. Briefly, a problem is an undesirable difference in the way things presently are compared to the way they normally have been in the past. Most definitions of problems are similar.  In manufacturing companies, a problem is usually associated with some change in a process, performance, or equipment that affects the quality or quantity of their products.

Course Outline
Pre-test

Introduction                                                     
What is a problem?                                                                                         
Problems and their Impacts                                                                            

Part I:  Seven Step Problem-Solving Technique
Seven Steps to Problem Solving                                                                 
Problem Solving versus Decision Making                                                     
Using Teams for Problem Solving                                                                  

Part II:  Problem-Solving Tools     

Part III:  Gathering Data
Check Sheets                                                                                                     
Process Maps                                                                                                     
Brainstorming                                                                                                     

Part IV:  Managing Gathered Data   
Weighted-Average Voting                                                                             

Part V:  Finding Root Causes
Force Field Analysis                                                                                         
Cause-and-Effect Diagrams                                                                             
Process Analysis                                                                                                     
Five Why/Root Cause                                                                                       
Kepner/Tregoe                                                                                                   

Part VI:  Implementation and Follow-up    
Develop and Implement the Solution                                                     
Review and Evaluate Results                                                                             
Follow-up                                                                                                                 

Part VII:  Using the Seven Step Problem-Solving Technique and Its Tools                                                                                                     
Practice Applications
Process Map
Process Analysis Exercise
Problem-Solving Exercises

Post-test

Customization
Outlines for each program can be tailored to suit your specific training needs.

Suggested Length
20 hours

Delivery Options
We will deliver training to suit your schedule. All programs can be conducted in increments as little as two hours per session or as long as 6 hours a session.

Cost
$100 per instructor hour plus a one-time $100 administrative fee per program.
Participant materials are extra.