Presentation for PTAC2446 college class.

1. Eliud Gonzalez
Jamayal Hanner
Sahr Gborie
REFINING OUR
TROUBLESHOOTING
SKILLS

2. What do we want to learn?
Let’s review some issues that have challenged students
Attitude Skill Knowledge

3. Attitude
We want to distinguish normal variation from a
severe fault and find the root cause of a fault.

4. Your attitude…
• Let’s guess!
• What could go wrong with a
small decrease in valuable
product?
• You mean that the temperature
is too high?
Scenario:
The distillation tower
is over flooding.
Fix the problem!
What is a Fact?

5. Whatisafact? Looking for the Root Cause:
“Changes” vs. “Usual”
What is the best statement – the most representative of
the situation?
• The temperature is 55 C.
• The temperature measures 55 C.
• The meter shows 55 C.
• We do not have any idea what is
going on – I’M OUT OF HERE!
We need to make
clear statements of
the evidence so that
we do not confuse
others (or ourselves)

6. 1. If you don’t understand, guess.
2. Confuse symptoms with root
cause.
3. Get tunnel vision
4. Accept all information as
relevant and correct.
Some typical
strategies that
do not work…
The forms are too
long, I don’t know
enough about
equipment, and
I don’t like the
pressure
I HATE
Trouble
Shooting!
I know
that I’ll
have to
trouble
shoot: I’ll
wait until
it really
matters.

7. Skills
We can apply a systematic
Troubleshooting Method

8. 1. Build on prior
Trouble Shooting
experiences
2. Give yourself a
procedure to adapt
to many situations.
3. Be consistent with
methods used in
process technology
practice.
Tailor Problem Solving Method

9. Knowledge
We understand process
principles and equipment

10. • PROFESSOR: What is the cause?
• STUDENT: The temperature is high.
• PROFESSOR: What is the cause?
• STUDENT: The cooling water flow
is low.
• PROFESSOR: What is the cause?
• STUDENT: The pump head is too
small. Aah!... The root cause!
 The trouble shooter must work “in
reverse”, -- from effect to cause.
 It is difficult to jump all the way to each
root cause in one step
Iteratively find root cause…
This scenario
is GOOD…
If we manage the process
and achieve the root causes
as candidates.

11. » What is a Fact?
» Multiple Root Causes
» Multiple Root Causes
In Summary…

12. Any Questions?
REFINING OUR
TROUBLESHOOTING SKILLS