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The Eight Steps For Successful Problem Solving

The document outlines an 8-step problem solving model used by Toyota: 1) Clarify the problem, 2) Break down the problem, 3) Set a target, 4) Analyze the root cause, 5) Develop countermeasures, 6) Implement countermeasures, 7) Evaluate results and processes, 8) Standardize successful improvements. The model involves clarifying problems, analyzing root causes, developing and testing countermeasures, and standardizing successful solutions.

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213 views3 pages

The Eight Steps For Successful Problem Solving

The document outlines an 8-step problem solving model used by Toyota: 1) Clarify the problem, 2) Break down the problem, 3) Set a target, 4) Analyze the root cause, 5) Develop countermeasures, 6) Implement countermeasures, 7) Evaluate results and processes, 8) Standardize successful improvements. The model involves clarifying problems, analyzing root causes, developing and testing countermeasures, and standardizing successful solutions.

Uploaded by

mammutbalaji
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Eight Steps for Successful Problem Solving

Based on the Toyota Business Process October 2010

8-Step Problem Solving Model


1. Clarify the problem 2. Break down the problem 3. Set a target 4. Analyze the root cause

Plan

Do Check

5. Develop countermeasures 6. Implement countermeasures

7. Evaluate results and processes

Act

8. Standardize successful improvements

Step
1

What?
Clarify the problem

How?
Observe the situation. Go and see. Talk with people. Gather information. Visualize the problem. Understand current results and the ideal results. Who is the customer? What results matter? What is the performance gap? Based on facts, break down the problem and clarify your objectives. What is abnormal? Where is it abnormal? When is it abnormal? Who? Take your larger vague issues and divide them into smaller grouping or chunks. Decide which problems to tackle first. Base selection on level of importance, level of urgency, and potential to get worse.

Break it down

Set a target

Establish a SMART goal -- specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and time bound. Action Verb: Object: How Much: By When: Increase, decrease What you wish to improve and for whom? A target goal and metric for success. The time frame for completion of your goal.

Root Cause Analysis

Thoroughly investigate the root cause. Use a fishbone diagram or a problem tree. Ask a successive series of Whys? to move beyond superficial, lower order thinking. Base you analysis on facts, not hunches. Manager your impatience to dig and reflect at a deeper level. Reach higher order thinking. You should begin to experience a synthesis of the complex data you have been taking in. Isolate the root cause.

Step
5

What?
Develop Countermeasures

How?
Develop as many countermeasures as possible. Then, narrow them down to the most practical and effective ones. Build consensus with others. Select the ones to test. Create an action plan for implementing them. Lay out a time line with the action steps, roles, responsibilities, and deadlines. Determine the measures you will track to evaluate progress toward improvement.

Implement countermeasures

Get management support for the changes. Implement quickly as a team. Develop a clear process for reporting progress. Check progress at regular intervals. Create a cadence to checking. Post visual controls with the performance measures relative to the target and the benchmarks.

Check Results and Process

Evaluate the overall results and the processes used. Think in terms of the customers view, the agencys view, and your own view. Understand the factors behind your success or failure. Did the changes meet your target? Did you contribute to the agencys strategic priorities? Did you improve customer satisfaction? Speed up response times? Improve quality by reducing errors? Reduce costs? Share your results with others.

Standardize

When you are successful solving a problem, make it a standard process. Share it with others. Repeat the 8 step problem solving process to continue raising the standard.

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