Conversely, common cause issues happen more frequently and/or occur with multiple operators, on multiple parts, with multiple equipment setups or under multiple conditions. Common cause issues are likely to need more systemic solutions, like additional training, engineering changes or modifying a process or procedure.
Another important aspect of troubleshooting any problem is determining if it is related to the raw material or to the process itself, which can help you determine if the issue is special cause or common cause. Raw material issues can arise with gel coats, mold release agents, initiators, buffing compounds, patching aids or other materials applied to the mold that can impact the quality of the gel coat film. Process-related issues involve people, methods, material selection and qualification, equipment, molds, calibration and environmental conditions.
Finally, when you troubleshoot an issue, it is best to make one change at a time in order to identify the effectiveness of each solution on its own. Making multiple changes at a time, unless carefully controlled for, can lead to confusion and worse results. And remember that suppliers are the experts, so reach out to your material supplier for additional technical support.
