CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Do you ever find yourself having to solve the same problems week after week? Are your staff spending undue time firefighting? Do the same issues and problems keep reappearing? These are things we are all too familiar with, and yet, it doesn’t have to be this way.

When your company runs into a major problem, you need to address it quickly. However, you also need to deal with it thoroughly and ensure that it doesn't recur – and this can take a lot of effort and elapsed time.

The 8D Problem Solving Process helps you do both of these seemingly-contradictory things, in a professional and controlled way.

 Do your staff know the difference between Point of Cause, Direct Cause, and Root Cause? If they don’t, then you’ll always be solving the same problems time after time – they’ll never go away!

At the Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) we have designed an approach using structured problem-solving techniques that are used in Quality Management Systems, originating in Japan, throughout the world by millions of companies. A selection of the more frequently used of these problem-solving tools have been customised and brought together in an easy to use and high impact approach – The 8D Problem Solving Methodology. 

What is an 8D Problem Solving Method?

This 8D approach is built upon the approach to problem solving used throughout the world’s automotive industry, yet customised to suit Northern Ireland companies – from SME’s to large and everything in-between.

It incorporates 8 problem-solving tools designed to link together to provide an 8-step process (hence the name 8D) in a structured and systematic manner. This process is actually delivered through an 8D template that makes it easy and effective for people to do. It’s a little like “complete the 8 boxes on the template and you’ll solve the root cause of the problem”.

What Happens On The Day?

This one-day, highly interactive workshop will provide you with all the skills you need to use the CforC 8D Approach to Problem Solving. Delegates use the 8D template to solve a real problem as they go through the learning of all the individual tools. High emphasis is also placed upon the soft skills of problem solving team working, as it is in this area that the high impact benefits are won or lost. This means that, on the day, every delegate will have used the 8D approach and template to solve a real problem (which is not easy to solve!), thus building knowledge and confidence to lead and participate in 8D problem solving teams back at your organisation.

Each participant will take away with them:

·       A grounded understanding of the critical few tools for successful root cause problem solving

·       An 8D template that can be used in the workplace the next day

·       Tips and suggestions for removing barriers and obstacles to problem solving

·       Increased confidence due to the successful application of the method with a workshop example

Who Would Benefit From This 8D Approach?

Owner-managers, managers at all levels in the organisation, especially team leaders, supervisors and middle managers. This 8D approach is suitable for ALL types of company or organisation, not just manufacturing, but also services of any description, public and voluntary sectors, in fact, any organisation that finds itself regularly firefighting.

This workshop is available online or in-house.

We are happy to discuss Creative Problem Solving in the context of your own business needs, so please contact us via email at compete@cforc.org or phone +44 (0)28 9073 7950 or our Dublin office +353 8 7224 2575 for more information.