TMC Annual Meeting: Root Cause Analysis

The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will host the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition from Feb. 27-March 2. ATA’s TMC contends that root cause analysis can be implemented throughout the fleet technician market. This year’s theme, “Advancing Reliability Through Root Cause Analysis,” explores the examination practice in and out of the garage bay with technical sessions on recruiting and retaining technicians, supply chain concerns, and other issues. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)

TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell said the council’s theme was derived from General Chairman Randy Obermeyer’s philosophy for the past year. Root cause analysis is a proactive prognostic type of maintenance exercise, and as chairman, Obermeyer’s idea is to apply that strategy to different things in the council, Braswell noted.

“He’s always been very interested in finding the root cause of anything dealing with maintenance and repair,” Braswell said. “He is an expert in those things and part of the TMC Lean Six Sigma classes, which come down to a general methodological tool to find root causes instead of just being reactive,” Braswell added that by applying root cause analysis to different things in the council, members can look at industry challenges from a different perspective.

“For example, why do we have battery problems? OK, let’s dig down to find out why. Try to go down as far as you can to prevent it from failing,” he explained. “Most of the time with electrical things, no trouble is found on the part itself when it comes back for warranty analysis, so a root cause analysis approach would help prevent those kinds of wasteful parts changes.” That approach could be used to examine many of the issues that are plaguing the industry. TMC’s S.6 Chassis & Brake Systems study group will present its aftermarket brake lining classification findings during its mini-technical session on Feb. 28.

The study group chaired by Ron Moody of Haldex Brake Products has reactivated a long-standing task force to review TMC’s RP 628C, Aftermarket Brake Lining Classification (first developed >20 years ago). No standard exists in the industry for aftermarket, and RP updates were made controversially five years ago due to manufacturers’ skepticism. Expect fireworks from this discussion at the Annual Meeting, featuring an exhibition floor and educational sessions.