The Two Pillars of Team-Wide Problem-Solving Success

Do you want to know what really sets an extraordinary reliability engineer apart from the rest?

It’s problem-solving, and I’m not talking about slap-a-bandaid-on-it-and-hope-it-won’t-come-back-to-haunt-you type solutions, but having the type of systems and processes that allow you and your team to really dig down to the cause of an occurrence so that you can resolve a recurring issue that could be costing your plant millions. It’s the difference between treating symptoms and targeting the virus.

But you’re already so busy! The average workday for you is like a game of whack-a-mole. Every time you’re working on one issue, another one (or two) pops up. You don’t have time to go all detective-y on every problem you find. What if time spent chasing a red herring means more unaddressed breakdowns and more lost profit for your company?

Deep problem-solving might seem like a waste of time, but once you actually have the hang of it, you and your team will find your plant running smoother than a well-oiled machine. That’s why, in these next few blog posts, I’m breaking down the topic of problem-solving for you:

? When to do it?

? How to do it?

? Who should do it?

? Topped off with a stand-out case study.

But to get you primed, first, we need to cover the very basics. The two pillars that are the foundation of team-wide problem-solving success!

Pillar 1 - The Pause

When you’re running like a hamster on a wheel trying to solve this pop-up issue, it’s hard to pay attention to the other odd goings-on around the plant. Crucial patterns are evading your notice, and what’s stopping you from seeking the big picture. You’re whacking away individual tentacles without realising there’s a whole damn kraken!

But when you take a moment to reflect on the problem at hand or any anomaly that trips you up, you might finally see a glimpse of (or conceive) the spawn point of all these little issues that have you in such a tizzy.

Remember this: time spent pausing and pondering is not a waste; it’s an investment.

Pillar 2 - The Process

So let's say you and your team did take a pause. What then? You might’ve solved other problems in your career before but through sheer luck or coincidence. Just because you knew how to solve that problem doesn’t mean you know how to solve this one.

That’s why you need to have a clear, step-by-step process that you and your team understand. This is your go-to guide on how to actually dig down to the root cause of an issue and analyse it holistically so that you never have to treat its symptoms ever again.

Once you have the process nailed down, you can use it to solve any problem that comes your way with confidence and efficiency.

If you’re looking for resources that actually outline the ideal problem-solving process, then Sologic has got you covered! It specialises in my favourite method, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and provides training, software, and a free e-book on the subject. If problem-solving to you feels like ramming your head into a brick wall over and over, then these are the resources that will teach you how to drill through to the solution.

Become an RCA expert today and you’ll revolutionise your workflow for good!