Quality Tools Case Study: Old Sarge Autobus II Fuel Cell Project
Question 1: What Quality tools and concepts would your team use to find the root causes for the frequent maintenance?
The Old Sarge Strategy Council program was launched to study and reduce, or eliminate the problems faced by customers and bus operators due to frequent maintenance to the fire/explosion suppression system that prevents fuel cells from exploding if struck from the rear by another vehicle. Consequently, the continuous maintenance problems led to the unsuccessful penetration into new markets; therefore, the Old Sarge Strategy Council determined that improving the fuel cell fire/explosion protection system reliability was the number one priority, and improving …show more content…
However, the system would require redesign of the bus. Therefore, it was collectively decided by the team that the high maintenance frequency of the fire/explosion suppression system should be studied by utilizing the Project Management Body of Knowledge (2013) seven basic quality tools that help to identify, and discuss the root cause of the fire/explosion suppression system maintenance issues, and which tools should be implemented to address this problem based on the available data, resources and expert input.
Cause-and-effect-diagrams is the first quality tool and concept that is critical to identify the root cause of fuel cell fire/explosion protection system maintenance times. And, all the team members agree that, since the cause-and-effect-diagrams method operates through the function of collaborative brainstorming discussions, the system allows the team to ask "why does this happen?" again and again at each stage, as each potential cause is identified. And, it presents an opportunity to prioritize relevant causes so the prevalent, central root cause is identified and addressed
Question 1: What Quality tools and concepts would your team use to find the root causes for the frequent maintenance?
The Old Sarge Strategy Council program was launched to study and reduce, or eliminate the problems faced by customers and bus operators due to frequent maintenance to the fire/explosion suppression system that prevents fuel cells from exploding if struck from the rear by another vehicle. Consequently, the continuous maintenance problems led to the unsuccessful penetration into new markets; therefore, the Old Sarge Strategy Council determined that improving the fuel cell fire/explosion protection system reliability was the number one priority, and improving …show more content…
However, the system would require redesign of the bus. Therefore, it was collectively decided by the team that the high maintenance frequency of the fire/explosion suppression system should be studied by utilizing the Project Management Body of Knowledge (2013) seven basic quality tools that help to identify, and discuss the root cause of the fire/explosion suppression system maintenance issues, and which tools should be implemented to address this problem based on the available data, resources and expert input.
Cause-and-effect-diagrams is the first quality tool and concept that is critical to identify the root cause of fuel cell fire/explosion protection system maintenance times. And, all the team members agree that, since the cause-and-effect-diagrams method operates through the function of collaborative brainstorming discussions, the system allows the team to ask "why does this happen?" again and again at each stage, as each potential cause is identified. And, it presents an opportunity to prioritize relevant causes so the prevalent, central root cause is identified and addressed