Skip to main content

8D: Problem solving methodology

8D is a problem solving methodology. Which help to stop recurring of the problem and strengthen the process by finding and elemination of problem or issues. 8D focus on the improvement of Process and product.

8D represent eight disciplines or steps to solve the problem. It starts from D0 to D8, some 8D also include D0 in the sequence of solving the problem. We will also include D0 in this list so that readers understand complete views, but it's completely readers choice to use D0 in thier problem solving project or not. We recommend that readers should start with D1.

8D is the structural approach to solve the critical problems, by the use statistical analysis of the problem.

Step0 : D0- Plan
Step1 : D1 - Create team
Step2 : D2 - Describe problem
Step3 : D3 -  Develop containment points
Step4 : D4 - Determine & Verify root cause
Step5 : D5 - Verify permanent solution
Step6 : D6 - Define & implement corrective action
Step7 : D7 - Take preventive actions
Step8 : D8 - Congratulate the team


D0 - Plan : In this step function can decide to use 8D process for the problem and what Emergency Response Action (ERA) to be taken before solving the problem so that customer will not effect by the any issue, like delivery failure or quality issues, etc. ERA may segregation of product or rework or hold 1-2 batches, etc. It is preparation for 8D process. 

D1 - Create team : Before start any project we should have good team. To solve Problem through 8D process we should make a cross functional team so that collection of number of possible potential causes will increase and speed of implementation of solution will also increase. We should select a leader of the team, if possible we can select Project Champion also. In this step only basic role of each member should be decided.

D2 - Describe the problem : It is very important to solve any problem that we should understand what exactly the problem is. If team clearly understood the problem, focus of solving the problem will be on right direction. It is important to understand the difference between symptom of the problem, cause of the problem and main problem. Problem statement should be very clear with "What Wrong With What". Use data and information to quantify the problem. 5W1H (What, When, Where, Why, Who, How) can be used to describe or understand the problem.

D3 -  Develop containment points : Team should define and implement containment points/action to isolate the effects of the problem from any internal/external customer until Permanent Corrective Action(s) are implemented. Defective product should not reach to any internal/external customer.

D4 - Determine & Verify root cause : process of finding of main cause of the problem is started in this step. In this step sit with team and do brainstorming and potential possible causes of the problem. After that do fact varification of all the potential possible causes identify during brainstorming. It is also important to understand why problem is not notice during first time occurrence only. It is highly recommend that fact variation should be done practically on machine and it should not be past experience or assumption. Fish bone diagram can be used to segregated the problem in 4M or 6M. Why- Why analysis process can be used to reach the cause of the proble. This step required, involvement of maximum number of team members

D5 - Verify permanent solution : After completing fact varification process and identify the main cause(s) of the problem, it is time to explore the permanent solution for the problem. In this step team should confirm what are the actions they will take to find the permanent solution for the given problem. Team should also analysis what will be prons and cons of the solution that team has decided before implementation. Concern or restrictions of any team member should be considered, and convince the member by data and facts.

D6 - Define & implement corrective action : By now we find the Permanent corrective action, in this step team should clearly define the permanent corrective action which should be clearly understood by other employees and customer. Implement the permanent solution and monitor the result and long term study.

D7 - Take preventive actions :  In this step team should consider all process, documents, system that should be modify so that possibility of reoccurance of the problem will eliminate. Verify all the modification and changes done so that no gap will remain in the process. Horizontal deployment of the solution should also done in this phase, so that similar issue will not raise on other machine or line or other plants.

D8 - Congratulate the team: Formally thanks every member of the team. It is very important to appreciate the contribution of the team and members, this give moral booster to members. Celebrate the success. Appreciate can be done by giving Thank you card or some certificate by champion of the team or HOD. 

8D is common methodology to solve the problem and improve the process or system.


Comments

Popular Articles

What is FMEA

 FMEA is stand for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. FMEA is a process analysis tool. FMEA is used to identify all the failures or potential failures that may occur in a process, before any physical error occur in the process and analysis consequences due to failures. It is one of the core tool of IATF16949 . Other core tool of IATF16949 are: APQP: Advance Product Quality Planning PPAP: Production Part Approval Planning MSA: Measurement System Analysis SPC : Statistical Process Control Type of FMEA: There are two type of FMEA: DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) 1. DFMEA (Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis): DFMEA is a methodology which is used to analyse the risk or failure during new product or process development, it also used during any change or modification in product or process. 2. PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) PFMEA is a methodology which is used to analyse risk or failure during manufact

What is PPAP?

  PPAP is stand for Production Part Approval Proces . PPAP is standard process in automotive and aerospace industries. It is basically written contact between supplier and customer about a product or process through which product will manufacture. It is output of APQP. Intresting thing about pronunciation of PPAP is that is not pronounced as P P A P, where as it is pronounce as P-PAP .   It is one of the core tool of IATF16949 . Other core tool of IATF16949 are: APQP: Advance Product Quality Planning FMEA: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis SPC : Statistical Process Control MSA : Measurement Systems Analysis You can read about above topic by clicking on them. PPAP is very important for supplier and manufacturer, to understand the requirement of customer and also helpful to the customer to know, that, how well product will produce through it's lifetime by manufacturer. PPAP is a risk identification and mitigation process used to provide evident to the customer that there is a relia

What is SPC?

SPC is stand for S tatistical Process Control.   SPC is a tool used for continuous improvement. SPC used to maintain quality by monitoring the process and well detect the possible occurrence of the error before it actually happened and we'll detective. It is one of the core tool of IATF16949 . Other core tool of IATF16949 are: APQP: Advance Product Quality Planning PPAP: Production Part Approval Planning MSA: Measurement System Analysis FMEA : Failure Mode and Effective Analysis   The SPC process is better than other quality tools because it is based on detection and prevention rather than the correction of problems after they have occurred, it means it help us to detect the fault or give indication before error actually occur, which means we can correct the process or the job size before any error occur in our job. It is real time process, so machine operator can easily identify the trend of the job and take corrective action before generation of any NG product. SPC is not only u

What is APQP ?

 APQP is stand for Advance product Quality planning. APQP is a process that is used satisfy product quantity as per customer requirements. APQP is not just a process but it is set of process or framework of process that are used while developing new product or new process. By APQP we ensure that new product or process should well established before product reach to the customer. APQP (Advance Product Quality Planning) is one of the five basic core tool of IATF 16959 . Other four core tools of IATF16949 are: PPAP : Production Part Approval Proces FMEA: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis SPC : Statistical Process Control MSA: Measurement Systems Analysis  Soon we will be writing about these four core tools. In this article we will concentrate on APQP only. There two aims of APQP   Firstly , To increase communication between different departments of the company specially R&D, production, logistics, sales, etc. Most of the work what R&D is doing, is not aware to other departments,

What is LPA?

  LPA is a stand for Layer Process Audit . LPA is Quality technique that focus on how well the process is working or following by the manufacturing Industry at the shop floor. LPA is not just an fault finding audit but it is a process improvement audit as it is audit where changes (Observation Closure) can be done during audit only. By LPA, rejection and other waste is reduced and  work towards continual improvement.  It is one of the important part of IATF16949 (Clause no. 9.2.2.3) and OEM customers (CSR) requirement.  LPA is not only confined with Quality department, rather it include all departments and all level of management and supervisor. Supervisor do LPA at their own function and frequency of doing may be weekly. Middle management do LPA at their function and other functions also but for them frequency of doing audit may be monthly. Senior management do LPA to any one function and frequency is quarterly.  LPA in one of the Audit where supervisor and operator learn about proce