The Keurig Mini Plus Brewing Machine Recall
The consistency concern is that about 6.6 million Keurig Mini Plus Brewing machines in the United States and 500,000 more in Canada are being recalled for safety reasons. When a customer brews more than two cups of coffee in a row, one of the brewing machines' systems emits hot liquid. The firm took the action after receiving 90 complaints about burn injury when operating the brewer and 200 complaints about hot liquid leaking from the process from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Brewers manufactured prior to July 2014 were subject to the recall.
Cause-Effect Relationship Tool
It shows the cause-effect relationship between phenomena. This tool is used to analyze the links that exist between various aspects in a complex situation. In many cases, the tool is utilized where a complex and controversial issue emerges. It allows all the team members to think about a solution rather than being imposed by one of the powerful team members. The application of this tool will allow a team to identify the origin of a problem even in cases where there is no reliable data.
Tool 2: Arrow Diagram
The arrow diagram is utilized in monitoring tasks in a process. Ii is used in identifying the steps in a process or project and determining their relationship with resources and tasks. When a process has serious consequences, constructing the arrow diagram will help stakeholders identify which stages are critical. They can also trace the root of the desired consequences. This tool is also used in identifying the advantage to the timing and quality of a process.
Tool 3: Process Decision Program Chart
It is used in the systematic identification of what might have gone wrong in a process. The chart is applied where the price of failure of a process is considered high. The process decision program chart aids in the development of a countermeasure to offset the existing problem. It is usually utilized in revising an existing plan. It can also be used in preparing a response when a problem occurs. In many cases, organizations that find themselves in problems due to flawed processes have to redeem their images and respond to affected stakeholders in a satisfactorily manner.
Problem Solving Steps
Step 1: Determine the exact unit that spills the hot liquid
This step will involve experiments through simulating the activities that lead to release of the hot liquid. It should be carried out in a controlled environment with all the safety precautions to prevent injuries to those conducting it. This stage will also involve other stakeholders such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the consumers who have experienced the defects.
Step 2: Communicating with the manufacturers
Once the defects have been determined, the company that manufactured the parts should be contacted. Keurig should work closely with the manufacturer of the parts to determine the likely cause of the defections. This step will widely process Decision Program Chart. The chart will be used to answer some questions such as the inputs used, the expectations of the quality engineers and the processes that should have been applied.
Step 3: Speak with the design engineers
This step will be utilized to determine whether the materials and processes used in manufacturing were up to standards. The design engineers will also determine whether the defective units were compatible to the brewers. They will also advise on what can be changed in order to accommodate modifications aimed at enhancing the quality of the product.
References
:
Evans, J. & Lindsay, W. (2014). Managing for quality and performance excellence. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
