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Description

Problem-Solving Tools: Frame the Issue, Find the Root Cause, Lock In the Fix

Two days to take a recurring problem back to its root cause and prevent it from returning

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

The same problem returns every quarter with a different action plan each time. Meetings jump to solutions before the problem has even been described. The causes retained are those put forward by the most persuasive voices rather than those the facts point to. The actions agreed are never verified and the issue resurfaces in another form.

These 14 hours put in place a structured approach and a set of simple tools. Participants learn to describe a problem through facts, to trace causes through systematic questioning and classic quality tools, to select a solution as a group and then to lock in the result. Every step is applied to a real problem brought by the participants.

Learning objectives

  • Describe a problem through facts and define its boundaries
  • Select and apply the appropriate root cause analysis tools
  • Verify a suspected cause against available data
  • Select a solution as a group using explicit criteria
  • Lock in the chosen solution and verify its effectiveness over time

What makes this programme different

A real problem brought by each participant, handled from description through to lock-in
A direct comparison between assumed causes and causes verified by data
A one-page problem resolution report drafted during the session

Programme

1Framing the Problem

A poorly framed problem stays unsolved

  • Factual description of a problem
  • Systematic questioning of the facts
  • Defining the scope and baseline indicators
  • Immediate containment actions to protect the customer

2Investigating the Causes

Looking beyond the obvious

  • Cause and effect diagram and cause families
  • Successive questioning down to the root cause
  • Verifying suspected causes against the facts
  • Prioritising with the Pareto diagram

3Selecting and Implementing Solutions

Deciding as a group

  • Generating solutions as a group
  • Selection criteria and decision matrix
  • Action plan, ownership and deadlines
  • Trialling and validating the chosen solution

4Locking In and Capturing Learning

Preventing the problem from returning

  • Standardising the solution in working documents
  • Verifying effectiveness over time
  • Extending the fix to similar situations
  • Formalising the outcome in a resolution report

Who is it for

Technicians · supervisors · quality officers · continuous improvement facilitators and members of problem-solving groups.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.