Unit 15 - Engineering Troubleshooting
Overview
In this unit, we focus on incident management, root cause analysis, and troubleshooting frameworks. These are foundational skills for Linux administrators who are responsible for maintaining system reliability and responding effectively to issues.
You’ll explore structured approaches like the Scientific Method, 5 Whys, FMEA, and PDCA, as well as methodologies like Six Sigma, TQM, and systems thinking. We’ll also look at tools for visual problem solving, including the Fishbone Diagram and Fault Tree Analysis, and discuss how data types play a role in investigations.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Apply the Scientific Method to real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Understand and use structured methods like FMEA, 5 Whys, and PDCA
- Differentiate between continuous and discrete data in diagnostics
- Use visual tools like Fishbone Diagrams and Fault Tree Analysis to trace causes
- Explain the OSI model as it applies to layered troubleshooting
- Leverage concepts from Six Sigma and 5S methodology to organize your workflows
- Document and communicate incidents effectively with post-mortem writeups
Key Terms and Definitions
| Incident | Problem |
|---|---|
| FMEA | Six Sigma |
| TQM | Post Mortem |
| ScientificMethod | Iterative |
| Discrete Data | Discrete Data - Ordinal |
| Discrete Data - Nominal(binary - attribute) | Continuousdata |
| Risk Priority Number(RPN) | 5 Whys |
| Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa) | Fault Tree Analysis(FTA) |
| PDCA | SIPOC |