02 Sep Back to Basics: A Guide to Effective Troubleshooting
PolySource’s Materials Technology Manager, Jeremy Bland, had this to share about the importance of going back to basics. Cardinal Rule #1: Trust, but verify!
“Throughout my 25 years in this industry, I’ve been amazed at how often I’ve found myself chasing a cosmetic issue or a dimensional or flatness callout, only to realize I’d veered off the established path. Instead of jumping into process adjustments, I’ve learned the value of stepping back and verifying the fundamentals.
Early in my career, I adopted a “process my way out of a problem” mentality. However, this often led to unintended consequences, creating new issues that required further attention. Thanks to some wise mentors, I discovered the importance of a systematic approach to troubleshooting, rooted in the principle of “trust, but verify.”
Scientific Molding introduced me to this concept, emphasizing the need to confirm basic assumptions before making adjustments. By asking questions like: “Are the water lines connected correctly?” “Does the flow rate match the diagram?” and “Are the process settings aligned with the saved machine reference sheet?”, I’ve been able to identify and address root causes more effectively.
Too often, I’ve seen technicians make adjustments without fully understanding the underlying problem. This can create a snowball effect, leading to increased variation and more frequent machine maintenance.
In the coming months, I’ll share specific examples of how I’ve applied this “trust, but verify” approach to solve various molding challenges. By learning from these case studies, I hope you’ll gain valuable insights and discover new techniques for troubleshooting your own processes.”