Troubleshooting, Research, Development and Experimentation Unit #6 Tom Weber Course 665 This material is based upon work supported by the national science.

Troubleshooting, Troubleshooting, Research, Development Research, Development

and Experimentationand Experimentation

Unit #6Unit #6

Tom WeberTom Weber

Course 665Course 665This material is based upon work supported by

the national science foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily

reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

What is Troubleshooting?What is Troubleshooting?The act of The act of

pinpointing pinpointing and and correcting correcting problems problems related to related to technological technological products or products or system.system.

Why do we need to learn about Why do we need to learn about Troubleshooting?Troubleshooting?

Complex technology is used in every Complex technology is used in every profession and nearly every job profession and nearly every job description.description.

We cannot always count on We cannot always count on technicians to come to the rescue.technicians to come to the rescue.

Technology will get Technology will get eveneven more more complex and you need to have complex and you need to have strategies to address problem.strategies to address problem.

Universal Troubleshooting ProcessUniversal Troubleshooting Process 1. Get the Attitude- The individual with an 1. Get the Attitude- The individual with an

attitude of panic, anger or overconfidence will attitude of panic, anger or overconfidence will fail, regardless of his other abilities. fail, regardless of his other abilities.

2. Get a complete and accurate symptom2. Get a complete and accurate symptom 3. Make damage control plan3. Make damage control plan 4. Reproduce the symptom4. Reproduce the symptom 5. Do the appropriate general maintenance5. Do the appropriate general maintenance 6. Narrow it down to the root cause6. Narrow it down to the root cause 7. Repair or replace the defective component7. Repair or replace the defective component 8. Test8. Test 9. Take pride in your solution9. Take pride in your solution 10. Prevent future occurrences of this problem10. Prevent future occurrences of this problem

Use these four troubleshooting Use these four troubleshooting toolstools

Mental ModelMental ModelKnow the system as components and relationships between Know the system as components and relationships between components.components.

Divide and ConquerDivide and ConquerEach test should nearly as possible divide the remaining Each test should nearly as possible divide the remaining search area in half. This is tempered by factors of ease and search area in half. This is tempered by factors of ease and likelihood.likelihood.

The AttitudeThe AttitudeMaintain super-rationality. Don't try to fix it, just try to Maintain super-rationality. Don't try to fix it, just try to narrow it down.narrow it down.

Fix the Right ProblemFix the Right ProblemThe quality control component of troubleshooting. Make The quality control component of troubleshooting. Make sure you eliminated the right symptom, fixed the right sure you eliminated the right symptom, fixed the right cause, and fixed the problem right. cause, and fixed the problem right.

Copyright (C)1995, 1996 by Steve Litt. Copyright (C)1995, 1996 by Steve Litt.

Troubleshooting in the Design LabTroubleshooting in the Design Lab

When designing a product or system you When designing a product or system you need to think about repairing and need to think about repairing and troubleshooting before the product is troubleshooting before the product is completed.completed.

As you are troubleshooting a product or As you are troubleshooting a product or system you may need to use a team to system you may need to use a team to think through the problem.think through the problem.

Reverse engineer the product for Reverse engineer the product for serviceability, repair, and diagnostic serviceability, repair, and diagnostic considerations.considerations.

Troubleshooting as a design priorityTroubleshooting as a design priority

SafetySafety ReliabilityReliability Economic considerations (Cost-Profit)Economic considerations (Cost-Profit) Service LifeService Life Quality ControlQuality Control Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns Ease of ManufacturingEase of Manufacturing

Troubleshooting as a design priority Troubleshooting as a design priority - continued- continued

Human Factor engineering Human Factor engineering (Ergonomics)(Ergonomics)

ServiceabilityServiceability Ease of TroubleshootingEase of Troubleshooting

Apple computer Honda

Research, development & Research, development & experimentationexperimentation

Research and Development (R&D) Research and Development (R&D) comprise creative work undertaken comprise creative work undertaken to increase the stock of to increase the stock of knowledge. :knowledge of manknowledge. :knowledge of man

:Culture:Culture

:society:society

*using this new knowledge to devise *using this new knowledge to devise new applicationsnew applications

3 types of R and D3 types of R and D

Basic research- used to gain new Basic research- used to gain new knowledge without any particular knowledge without any particular application or use in view.application or use in view.

Applied research- Also acquires new Applied research- Also acquires new knowledge but for a single or limited knowledge but for a single or limited number of products or operations.number of products or operations.

Experimental development- knowledge Experimental development- knowledge gained to produce new materials devices, gained to produce new materials devices, services, systems or to improve life.services, systems or to improve life.

Experimentation in the design labExperimentation in the design lab

You would work on real problemsYou would work on real problems You work to solve technological You work to solve technological

products or systems.products or systems.

R & D in the science labR & D in the science lab

A Scientist begins with the process of A Scientist begins with the process of discovery with a hypothesis or theory discovery with a hypothesis or theory and proceeds to design experiments and proceeds to design experiments to prove it true or untrue.to prove it true or untrue.

Berkeley Lab

Standards and BenchmarksStandards and Benchmarks • • Standard 2:Standard 2: Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of

technology.technology.o [2.M] Technological systems include input, processes, output, and, at times, o [2.M] Technological systems include input, processes, output, and, at times, feedback.feedback.o [2.P] New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do o [2.P] New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology.things that could not be done without the help of technology.o [2.Q] The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of o [2.Q] The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.o [2.S] Trade-off is a decision process recognizing the need for careful compromises o [2.S] Trade-off is a decision process recognizing the need for careful compromises among competing factors.among competing factors.

• Standard 10:• Standard 10: Students will develop an understanding of the role of Students will develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.experimentation in problem solving.o [10.F] Troubleshooting is a problem-solving method used to identify the cause of a o [10.F] Troubleshooting is a problem-solving method used to identify the cause of a malfunction in a technological system.malfunction in a technological system.o [10.H] Some technological problems are best solved through experimentation.o [10.H] Some technological problems are best solved through experimentation.

• Standard 12:• Standard 12: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.products and systems.o [12.H] Use information provided in manuals, protocols, or by experienced people to o [12.H] Use information provided in manuals, protocols, or by experienced people to see and understand how things work.see and understand how things work.o [12.I] Use tools, materials, and machine safely to diagnose, adjust, and repairs o [12.I] Use tools, materials, and machine safely to diagnose, adjust, and repairs systems.systems.