{"id":4329,"date":"2021-05-28T01:33:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T07:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?p=4329"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:06:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T19:06:47","slug":"troubleshooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/troubleshooting\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Almost Anything"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Everything breaks eventually. <\/span>When rebooting doesn\u2019t solve the problem, we brainstorm causes and test them to find the issue. <\/span>That is troubleshooting in a nutshell.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article will cover w<\/span>hat troubleshooting is, some common troubleshooting scenarios, and ways to streamline the process using your CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row kd_background_image_position=”vc_row-bg-position-top”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What is troubleshooting?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Troubleshooting is a step-by-step approach to finding the root cause of an issue and deciding the best way to fix it to get it back in operation. Troubleshooting is not just for equipment that has completely broken down. We also use it when a machine is just not working as expected. Efficient troubleshooting is an essential part of asset management, diagnosis, and repair.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Machines that are properly operated and routinely maintained<\/a><\/span>\u00a0are less likely to suffer major breakdowns. Still, there will never be a zero chance of failure. If you are using equipment, it will, at some point, need repairing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When and why to troubleshoot?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It may seem obvious that troubleshooting occurs whenever there is any kind of, well, trouble. But anticipating the different types of problems that may arise can help you streamline your response. Broadly speaking, troubleshooting is done in the following instances:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"when<\/p>\n

1) Device failure<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is the big one: the most urgent reason to troubleshoot. The machine is broken, entirely <\/span>out of commission<\/span><\/a>, and needs to be fixed pronto to keep working. This can have a knock-on effect in a company by bringing all operations to a grinding halt and putting everything on hold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact is, unplanned downtime is expensive for companies, often costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars per minute. Suppose you’ve got a capable maintenance team that knows how to troubleshoot effectively.<\/span> In that case, you can reduce high-severity outages and save the company money.<\/b><\/p>\n

Utilizing a modern CMMS like Limble for troubleshooting checklists can help reduce downtime. As an added bonus, each member of your team becomes more valuable to you when they have experience troubleshooting efficiently and effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Unexpected operation<\/span><\/h3>\n

Every machine has a defined set of functions it can perform. Most devices don\u2019t do things exactly the same way every time because of limitations in engineering and human error (as hard as we may try to avoid it). Even with these slight variations in performance, the machine can operate smoothly. <\/span>This is considered its normal operation range<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the machine starts to run outside these ranges, we may have a problem, and it needs to be on your crew\u2019s radar. These situations are not as urgent as a total failure. Still, <\/span>unexpected operations should be reported to fix the problem before a real issue comes up<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take the cooling fans in your plant, for example. Imagine they are running and pushing out cool air, but every so often, they stop blowing for a few minutes (or the air isn\u2019t as cold as it should be). Other equipment might overheat because of that malfunction and eventually start to break down. Fixing the fan as soon as you know about it will save the company time and a lot of money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting operational users to log faults when they come up can be a great way to get to the problems early and avoid total failure. <\/b>Using your CMMS to log the problem will give you a written history of what happened and how it was fixed, making troubleshooting time in the future that much easier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3) Other anomalies<\/span><\/h3>\n

The machine is working within the ideal operating range and is delivering the expected output. However, an operator has spotted some anomaly. It could be a strange sound, a weird smell, visible smoke, excessive vibration, etc. Such anomalies should also be investigated within an appropriate time window<\/span>
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[limblequote]The process for reporting problems should never be made into a tedious task. It is the only way to ensure people use it. Limble users can email, phone, scan a QR code or log a fault in person. The system even has a central account that will transform emails into work requests and creates a central hub where history can be recorded and referred to later.[\/limblequote]<\/span><\/p>\n

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With detailed asset history logs and troubleshooting experience, users can take care of things independently. This will free up more time for your team to focus on things that matter more.
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What are the benefits of troubleshooting?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are a lot of costs that come with reactive maintenance and a lack of troubleshooting know-how. What we don\u2019t always consider is that these costs go beyond pure dollars and cents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A penny saved is a penny earned\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The immediate costs are the most apparent costs linked to <\/span>maintenance and repairs<\/span><\/a>. These are the actual, unplanned dollars that it costs to repair broken and faulty equipment. Expenses like these often cause the finance team to be up in arms and get them wondering why maintenance is so costly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the long term, repeated breakdowns, failures, and stops in production can lead to the need to bring in expensive vendors in for repairs and replacement of the asset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being able to troubleshoot well and having all the information you need at your fingertips will give you the leverage to reframe the conversation and relationship.<\/b> Instead of Finance coming to you wondering why everything you need costs so much money, you can say, \u201cHey, look at how much we\u2019ve saved you. This could have cost hundreds, if not thousands more\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, as far as Finance is concerned, you\u2019re the hero instead of the villian.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show must go on\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Downtime is expensive \u2014 more expensive than just the cost of fixing the machine. When you’ve got equipment that’s broken down, it stops your revenue-producing activities in their tracks. Every minute you can’t operate is more money out the window. The faster your maintenance crew can get running again, the more money you stand to save.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In a <\/span>study by Vanson Borne of GE Digital for ServiceMax<\/span><\/a> surveying 450 services and IT decision-makers from around the world, they found that:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n