10 reasons for using MAXER method
- MAXER is a Problem Solving method based on reasoning rather than experience. Do Maintenance engineers in your factory take decisions based on facts and reasoning ?…. Or based on experience, intuition, ... worst: routine ?
- Tracing a Problem to its Origins is the heart of the method. Eliminating the root cause of one problem leads to solving many other problems that have happened or will happen.
- Antecedents and background : Practicing MAXER helps you focus on elements that may have occurred prior to the failure. It helps engineers to spend time on analyzing the context (time and location) and not just the technical aspect of the machine. This is the major difference between MAXER and other traditional problem solving methods, generally coming from quality management systems.
- MAXER is the perfect method for asking the right questions in the right order, therefore avoiding to loose time on elements that are not related to the problem: Quicker diagnosis.
- Comparison of “configuration without fault” with “configuration with fault”: It is not in the genes of maintenance engineers to analyze why an equipment or part of an equipment is working well ! MAXER forces you to understand why a similar machine can work well in a different context, leading you to the root cause.
- Method in troubleshooting. Most good maintenance engineers are well trained on the technical aspect of the job. It is unfortunate to observe that each new or experienced engineers have their own approach to perform a diagnosis and search for the root cause. Very often they end up focusing on the area where they are the most knowledgeable: A mechanical engineer will focus on mechanical components. An electrical engineer will focus on PLC, drives, …not always where the root cause is hiding. And this the key point of the method: Having the same efficient diagnosis method for everybody.
- It is a proven method. Most of the Best In Class Automotive industry adopted the method. Oil industry, pharmaceutical and food industry are also deploying.
- MAXER is a lean manufacturing tool: It fits perfectly in the TPM approach. It helps production and maintenance teams to solve problems together on daily basis, focusing on facts, context and reasoning, therefore avoiding conflicts.
- Focus on reliability. Systematic use of MAXER leads to daily recommendations for reliability improvements, therefore continuously improving O.E.E..
- MAXER is not limited to maintenance problem. Several organizations also achieve good results using the method to work on complex Quality problems, energy consumption, cost reduction ...
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