Design Target: Extracting Problems and Constraints

Professor Tsung-Dao Lee emphasized that “the ability to accurately define a problem is the first decisive step toward innovation”. Quality, efficiency, safety and cost are not only the targets of IME but also the sources of potential problems. Where should one begin? Quality can be addressed through the Process Capability Index (Cpk), efficiency through the Eight Wastes, safety through energy and cost through the manufacturing overhead. How should one proceed? This chapter introduces a wide range of analysis tools, such as the fishbone diagram, SWOT analysis, accident tree analysis, PDCA cycle, FMEA, and the payback period, to move beyond surface phenomena, identify root causes, extract system-level problems, and define optimization criteria for IME system design. The ultimate target is to pinpoint the breakthrough points and to extract problems and constraints in IME systems.