Troubleshooting generally requires three methods to pinpoint the root cause of a problem and fully restore a piece of equipment or application to its operational state. The methods are discussed below.
1. Diagnosis or failure analysis
This is the process wherein a product’s or process’s modes of failures are investigated. With it, a device or process may be picked apart or checked with the aid of diagnostic tools to understand how defects could impact operations, as well as the safety of users.
2. Process of elimination
The process of elimination is a problem-solving method where solutions are screened until only the best one is left. One example of this process is the split-half search technique. It refers to the practice of eliminating 50% of the potential sources of an issue until you determine its ultimate source. Once the cause has been identified, the problem is replicated so a solution can be chosen and subsequently administered.
3. Process or product restoration
This is the process wherein the solution is applied to either fix or replace the problematic component. Here, a technician or troubleshooter has to verify that the issue has been fully resolved and will no longer cause future problems.