Critical thinking and problem solving.pptx.pdf
- 1. CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABBAS UDDIN SHIYAK, PHD, CTEXT FTI With acknowledgement of GIZ REMC and STA Learning Outcome ▪ Understanding the importance of critical thinking ▪ Developing the skillset needed to conduct a root-cause analysis. ▪ Knowledge to apply different techniques to problem solving THE PROBLEM What might be the consequences of not understanding a problem in detail? Discuss as a group and take notes. CRITICAL THINKING
- 2. CRITICAL THINKING • Critical thinking is the objective analysis of facts to form a judgment. • It is aimed at achieving the best possible outcome in any situation. It must involve gathering and evaluating information from as many different sources as possible. • It is based in the analysis of facts rather than opinions. • Facts are information that is usually not debateable. • Opinions are subjective, value judgements based on isolated items (e.g. own experience, history) and can be debateable. 5 BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING 6 • It helps with effective communication and problem-solving abilities. • It helps to reflect in one's own beliefs. Provides the tools for the process of self-evaluation. • It helps to evaluate new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary. • It promotes the ability to deal with changes quickly and effectively. HOW TO APPLY CRITICAL THINKING 7 Analyse the situation: root causes Observe a situation: problem, symptoms, impacts Decide an action to take and assess possible outcomes Review the results of the decision, implement change where possible TAKING ACTIONS APPLYING CRITICAL THINKING ▪ Challenge: Detection of lead in wastewater after treatment discharge. ▪ Observations: • No Lead present in the incoming water to the facility. • Mill did not use any dyestuffs/pigments/auxiliaries/chemicals during processing of material which might result in lead residues in wastewater before treatment. • During treatment of wastewater mill uses ferrous sulphate as a ETP chemical. • The ferrous sulphate is a by-product from another industry, containing a high amount of lead as an impurity. ▪ Action to take: • Inform procurement about the chemical specifications required. • Conduct a quality control of incoming chemicals, including chemical testing. • Substitute ferrous sulphate with an appropriate alternative.
- 3. CRITICAL THINKING METHODOLOGIES • 5 Why’s • Fishbone Diagram • SWOT Analysis • Decision Tree • Cost Benefit Analysis • MAIC Methodology 9 Assessing Alternatives Root Cause Analysis Problem Solving ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS US railway gauge 4 foot 8.5 inch or 1.4351 meters Why ? Understanding the situation US railway gauge = 4 foot 8.5 inch or 1.4351 meters Because railways in US were built with the same gauge as the ones in UK. Because the same people, who built the railways also built the trams in UK. WH Y WH Y WH Y Because they used the same lathe and tools for trams as for horse carriage with the same wheel stand WH Y Because wheel stands had to be adjusted to existing rutes in the long-distance roads in UK WH Y The rutes were created by Roman chariots which had this wheelstand because to make space for horses towing the Roman chariots. Understanding the situation
- 4. But what could that have to do with the space shuttle? Solid rocket booster (SRB) for the Space Shuttle are produced by M/s Thiokol in Utah. The engineers wanted bigger SRB, but could not. Because the SRB had to be transported by railroad from the plant to the NASA launch base. Railway passes through railway tunnel. Tunnel size is a little larger than rail gauge Answer : Important feature of one of advance means of transport has therefore its root in the size of Roman horses‘ ass! WHY ? Understanding the situation More example! FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE: 5 WHYS Short-term actions Standardised preventive measures Spillage of oil on shop floor Machine is leaking oil Gasket (sealing) deteriorated Bought cheap gasket Evaluation of purchase manager on short term cost-savings Costs are too high Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Action: Clean the oil Action: Fix the generator Action: Replace the gasket Action: Change purchasing policy Action: Change evaluation policy for purchasing manager Action: Reduce unnecessary waste in all processes EXAMPLE OF APPLYING 5 WHYS: PRODUCT LISTED ON RAPEX (1/2) Reference: https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/consumers_safety/safety_products/rapex/alerts/?event=main.listNotifications
- 5. EXAMPLE OF APPLYING 5 WHYS: PRODUCT LISTED ON RAPEX (2/2) Short-term actions Standardised preventive measures Product recall due to aromatic amine 4-aminoazobenzene Use of restricted Azo disperse dye for dyeing No risk management performed for the dyestuff in the facility Dyeing manager not aware of the RSL requirement Procurement person not aware of the RSL requirement Brand requirement & RSL policy not communicated properly internally Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Action: Take product back Action: Avoid use of products containing restricted substances Action: Perform risk assessment of all chemicals added to the chemical inventory Action: Train responsible employees on requirements Action: Improve internal communications Action: Set-up an internal process to reflect brand requirements SUMMARY OF THE 5 WHYS Advantages Disadvantages • It helps to quickly identify the root cause of a problem. • It helps determine the relationship between the different root causes of a problem. • It can be learned quickly and doesn't require statistical analysis to be used. • If the cause is unknown to the person doing the problem solving it may not lead to any meaningful answers. • If even one WHY has a meaningless answer, the whole procedure can be thrown off. • It assumes that each symptom has only one sufficient cause. It may not reveal jointly sufficient causes that explain a symptom. • The method isn’t necessarily repeatable; three different people applying 5 Whys to the same problem may come up with three totally different answers. UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION: FISHBONE DIAGRAM Major category Major category Major category Major category Major category Major category Problem Cause Effect Primary cause Secondary cause 19 FISH BONE DIAGRAM PROCEDURE • Define problem statement (effect). • Brainstorm the major categories of causes of the problem. • Brainstorm all the possible causes of the problem. Ask: “Why does this happen?” • Again ask “why does this happen?” about each cause. • Write sub–causes branching off the causes. • Continue to ask “Why?” and generate deeper levels of causes. Layers of branches indicate causal relationships.
- 6. APPLYING THE FISHBONE DIAGRAM • Train the chemical store responsible person for how to open the dyestuff carton boxes, also, need to train on dyestuff handling and precaution to take care during weighing of dyestuff. • Ensure proper exhaust system working in place. • Ensure trolley system available in place to carry out boxes to weighing scale in case they are away. • Keep the regularly used dyes near to weighing area to avoid frequent use of trolley to carry out dyestuff boxes up to weighing scale Dyestuff boxes are always open. Dyestuff dust in chemical weighing room Cause Effect 21 New dyestuff boxes weren’t opened properly and cover torn out completely. Exhaust system not available/ not working Dyestuff boxes kept away from the weighing balance. No trolley system available to carry dyestuff boxes near to weighing scale. Person responsible for weighing dyestuff carries the dyestuff in spoon from dyestuff box to weighing scale. Person responsible for chemical weighing is not fully trained for handling of dyestuff. Actions SUMMARY FISHBONE DRIAGRAMS Advantages Disadvantages • It is a visual tool which is very easy to understand and to analyse. • It helps you identify the root cause of the problem. • It helps you to find bottlenecks in the process. • It helps you identify ways to improve the process. • It involves in-depth discussion of the problem which educates the whole team. • It prioritises further analysis and helps you take corrective action. • Graphically speaking, all causes look equally important. • Sometimes effort is wasted in identifying causes which have little effect on the problem. • Is based on opinion rather than evidence. • This process involves a democratic way of selecting the cause, i.e. voting down the causes, which may not be an effective way of identifying causes. • If the discussion is not controlled properly it may deviate from its objective. SELECTING A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS METHOD Advantages Disadvantages 5 Whys Quick to perform Subjective Subject to errors in determining more complex root causes Fishbone Diagram Visual Identifies complex root cause(s) Identifies bottlenecks Identifies improvements needed Consensual definition of a root cause In-depth discussion of the problem Prioritises further analysis and corrective action Time consuming Needs guidance and consensus ACTIVITY GROUP WORK You see a worker handling a certain hazardous chemical without using personal protective equipment PPE. There is a high chance that the worker may suffer from immediate health problems. Group A: What actions do you suggest using the 5 Why method? Group B: What actions do you suggest using the Fishbone diagram? Work in two groups. Follow the instructions in your workbook on page xx.
- 7. Understanding the situation Consider the following situation in the factory What action do you suggest? You see a worker handling a certain hazardous chemical without using personal protective equipment PPE. There is a high chance that the worker may suffer from immediate health problems. The immediate solution may be to provide PPE. But did ask yourself why did the worker not use any PPE? Understanding the situation Group exercise A worker is handling a certain hazardous chemical without using personal protective equipment PPE Your task in groups: • Look beyond the situation and try identifying the possible root causes why the worker is not wearing PPE. • Visualise your finding and present to the other groups Time: 20 minutes Why? ADRESSING ROOT-CAUSE Why? A worker is handling a hazardous chemical without using personal protective equipment (PPE) The worn out PPE was not replaced The PPE is available, but the worker does not want to use it. The PPE is available, but the worker does not know how to use it PPE was not provided Why? No considered necessary Worker has not reported Worker not aware of need No funds made available No enforce- ment PPE not fitting Why? SDS not available or used No procedure No training …. Properly analysing the situation will allow you to address the real causes in an effective and sustainable way. ASSESSING ALTERNATIVES
- 8. EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES - SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths We have specialized staff to know how to set up, operate and maintain a photovoltaic plant . Weaknesses The set-up of a solar plant will require high investment and we do not have budget for new investments until 2023 . Opportunities The government subsidies solar plants. We can enhance our reputation as environmentally friendly company. Threats Weather conditions (sunny days) might be unpredictable in our geographical area. Invest in own solar plant A basic, analytical framework that assesses what a ‘solution‘ can and cannot do, for factors both internal (the strengths and weaknesses), as well as external (the potential opportunities and threats). EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES – DECISION TREE • Graphical representation of possible solutions to a decision based on certain conditions. • Allows you to approach the problem in a structured and systematic way to arrive at a logical conclusion. • Represents a documented record of the inputs that were available, the way you performed your evaluation and the reasons for the final decision. Have an alternative to treat wastewater? Have sufficient funding for it? Yes No Yes Yes No No … … … … We want to invest in own Wastewater Treatment Plant EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES – COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS • Quick and simple technique that you can use for non-critical financial decisions. • Straightforward tool for deciding whether to pursue a project. • You can include financial and intangible items into your analysis. • Where decisions are mission-critical, or large sums of money are involved, this approach lacks complexity. Cost Benefit Increase in productivity Reduction in cost Time Savings Risk Management Initial investment Implementation costs Maintenance costs ACTIVITY GROUP WORK A university asks you to participate in a pilot project on waterless dyeing. If the project is successful, you will be able to save water and chemicals, plus the time from drying. The dyeing process is twice as fast as your current process. The project is subsidised heavily, however your investment still is at 1 Million USD. Could this be of interest for you? Use one of the methods to evaluate this case. Work in pairs. Follow the instructions in your workbook on page xx.
- 9. PROBLEM SOLVING PROBLEM SOLVING: MAIC METHODOLOGY Open To Questions SUMMARY Each participant to feedback with one key learning from this session.
- 10. Thank You