Knowledge

Eight Disciplines Problem Solving                     Eight disciplines ( 8Ds ) problem solving is a method developed at Ford Motor Company used to approach and to resolve problems,  typically employed by engineers or other professionals. Focused on product and process improvement, its purpose is to identify, correct, and eliminate recurring problems. It establishes a permanent corrective action based on statistical analysis of the problem and on the origin of the problem by, determining the root causes . Although it originally comprised eight stages, or 'disciplines', it was later augmented by an initial planning stage. 8D follows the logic of the PDCA cycle . The disciplines are: D0: Preparation and Emergency Response Actions : Plan for solving the problem and determine the prerequisites. Provide emergency response actions. D1: Use a Team : Establish a team of people with product/process know...

The 16 Losses In Total Productive Maintenance To help identify all losses in a process system (man/machine/material), and thus, eliminate them, they have been divided into 16 categories , and can be grouped, accordingly, as shown in Figure 1, with orange representing the equipment related, losses, blue representing the losses relating to manpower and yellow representing, the losses relating to resource consumption. Figure 1: The 16 big losses Equipment Losses 1. Breakdown loss: (unit time e.g. hours) The equipment breaks down causing the function of the line or process to stop. Often this is considered as a sporadic failure, typically caused by equipment component failure. Examples: Bearing failure due to wear, electrical fault, snapped belt. 2. Set up & adjustment loss: (unit time e.g. hours) This loss occurs during a changeover between products. Set up time is defined as the amount of time taken to change a process over from the last part of a production run to th...

YOUR HANDS AS YOU AGED Give Your Hands a Hand You use your hands to do so many things: tie your shoes, open jars, drive, and use your phone, to name just a few. It’s hard to do much of anything without them, but as you get older, they can get weaker and less flexible. Some hand problems can even be signs of certain health conditions. Know what to look out for so you keep them in good shape. Grip Strength You can lose this naturally as you age, especially after 65, and that can make it harder to do everyday tasks. If your grip gets weaker over time, it’s probably caused by brittle bones, arthritis, or muscle loss. If it happens suddenly, it might be a sign of a more serious problem, like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Grip Strength: Treatment An occupational or physical therapist can test the strength in your hands and help you regain or keep it. You also can do many exercises at home. For example, you might squeeze something like a tennis ball as hard as yo...

WHY DOES MY BODY ACHE When You Ache All Over Muscle pain that affects a small part of your body is usually caused by overuse -- sore arms from lifting boxes all day, for example. Or it could be a minor injury, like a bruised shoulder after a fall. But when you ache all over your body, it’s more likely caused by an infection, illness, or medicine you’ve taken. The Flu When a flu virus hits, it brings on fever and congestion, and it can make your muscles ache, especially in your back, legs, and arms. It usually gets better on its own in a week or so, but call your doctor if it doesn’t. You also should see him if you have other health problems and you get the flu or you have a cough that doesn’t go away. Hypothyroidism This is when your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of certain key hormones. It can cause muscle and joint aches, as well as swelling and tenderness. It can make you tired and lead to memory problems, thinning hair, dry skin, high cholesterol, slowed heart rate, ...

WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS HOT? Hyperthyroidism Feeling warm? A problem with your thyroid gland could be to blame. With hyperthyroidism, the gland makes too many hormones. This speeds up the rate that your body turns fuel into energy, which makes you hot. You may be more thirsty, hungry, and sweaty and your heart may race. You also may have diarrhea or itchy rashes. Women may have lighter or skipped periods or trouble getting pregnant.   Menopause It's when a woman stops having her period for good, usually around age 50. You'll likely get "hot flashes." These are sudden, brief increases in body temperature. Menopause may cause intense sweating, dizziness, and a racing heart. The symptoms usually start before your last period and can last for several years. If they're severe, your doctor may suggest you manage them with hormone replacement, medications, and lifestyle changes. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency It happens when a woman's ovaries don't make norm...