Cause Map Template

This Cause Mapping template is intended for people that have Start This worksheet.
completed the Two-day Cause Mapping workshop. If you have
any additional questions about this template or if you would like Excel Inst The instructions for using
information about having a ThinkReliability workshop at your site
please call our office at 281-489-2904 or send an e-mail to CM Steps The three steps to the C
info@thinkreliability.com Thank you for experimenting with this
template. Your comments would be appreciated. CM - detailed

1. Outline The outline questions of

2. Cause Map The blank cause boxes t

These are template
worksheets in this
3. Solutions The solutions table to lis
Excel workbook.
Process Map

CM Examples Several very simple Cau

This template provides an example of how Microsoft Excel can be
used to Cause Map an issue. This simple template makes it easy Titanic Map-4 A sample of 4 causes on
to document, store and share Cause Maps within an organization
without buying any additional drawing software. Titanic Map-19 A sample of 19 causes o
ate

This worksheet.

The instructions for using the drawing tool in Excel.

The three steps to the Cause Mapping (CM) process.

The outline questions of the issue or problem.

The blank cause boxes to build a Cause Map.

The solutions table to list the specific action items.

Several very simple Cause Map examples.

A sample of 4 causes on the Titanic Cause Map.

A sample of 19 causes on the Titanic Cause Map.

Cause Map Template
ThinkReliability.com - Cause Map Template Copyright 2000
Notes to help you get started. These notes provide some assistance in using the MS Excel Cause Map
template and assume that you have already attended the Cause Mapping workshop.

Open the Drawing Toolbar in Excel:

Click on View/Toolbars and click Drawing. It should appear at either the top or bottom inside the Excel
application. The Drawing Toolbar starts with the word Draw. There is an arrow next to Draw. Placing your
mouse cursor over any item on the Drawing Tool, without clicking on it, will display its function

Remove the Gridlines:

Click on Tools/Options and uncheck the Gridlines box on the View tab. Click OK.

The two basic tools to create a Cause Map: (Boxes and Lines)

Causes Boxes -
Copying a Box
There are cause boxes on the Cause Map worksheet in this workbook. You can copy one of the cause
blocks and make as many as you need. To copy a cause box click on the box so that the border of the box
turns to diagonal lines. Click anywhere on the diagonal lines to turn the border into dots. Once the border
of the box becomes dots, with the mouse still on the border area, right click the mouse to pull up the copy
menu on the screen. Select copy and left click the mouse. You can now paste as many copies of the box
as you need. If there is text in the box you can click the text and either type over it or delete it.
Making a New Box
Move your mouse over the Text Box on the Drawing Toolbar - the text box is a square with an 'A' and some
small lines in it. Left click on the Text Box, locate the mouse on the worksheet, and left click the mouse
again while holding down the left mouse button. You can now drag the box to any size you prefer.
Centering Text
The text in the box may not be centered. You can center the text by clicking on the box to create the
diagonal line border then double clicking the diagonal line border with the left mouse button to pull up a
format box. Click on the Alignment tab and change both the horizontal and vertical alignments to centered
and click OK.
Moving Cause Boxes
By clicking on a cause box, creating either a diagonal line or dotted border, and holding down the left mouse
key you can move box on the worksheet. By clicking on the arrow to the right of Draw on the Toolbar you
can drag a dashed box around many cause boxes by using the left mouse button and holding it down. You
may then move all of them by grabbing the dotted border on any one of the boxes. Also, once the box has a
dotted border you can move it small amounts with the arrows on the keyboard.

Line Connectors -
Do not use either the line or the arrow that is displayed on the toolbar. There is a much easier way. Click
AutoShapes on the Toolbar, select connectors with the left mouse button so that the box of nine connectors
appears. Move your mouse to the gray horizontal bar at the top of the connector box and hold down your
left mouse button and drag the connector box to either the Toolbar at the top or bottom of your screen in
Excel - or simply drag it onto the worksheet - and let go of the mouse button. These are the line connectors
that are the easiest to use because they stay connected to the boxes even when you move the boxes
around. Use the connectors called either the Elbow Connector or the Elbow Arrow Connector. The names
pop up when you move the mouse over them without clicking on it. Remember if you decide to use the
arrow, it should point from the cause to the effect. This is because reading left to right on a cause map is
moving backward through time, so the arrows will actually be pointing in the direction of time on a cause
map - just like our usual convention.

Capturing Cause Maps - Multiple Worksheets

To avoid reinventing the wheel by capturing the know-how that is already in your organization continue to
add information to a cause map for a particular issue as it becomes available. To show the evolution of the
cause map as more information is captured over time keep separate worksheets for each stage of the cause
map. To copy a worksheet within the same workbook right click on the tab for that particular worksheet.
Select Move or Copy with the left mouse button. When the dialogue box opens check the Create a copy
box and click (move to end) within the same workbook then click OK. As a cause map grows we can show
what we learned over time within one Excel workbook.

END
arrow, it should point from the cause to the effect. This is because reading left to right on a cause map is
moving backward through time, so the arrows will actually be pointing in the direction of time on a cause
map - just like our usual convention.

Capturing Cause Maps - Multiple Worksheets

To avoid reinventing the wheel by capturing the know-how that is already in your organization continue to
add information to a cause map for a particular issue as it becomes available. To show the evolution of the
cause map as more information is captured over time keep separate worksheets for each stage of the cause
map. To copy a worksheet within the same workbook right click on the tab for that particular worksheet.
Select Move or Copy with the left mouse button. When the dialogue box opens check the Create a copy
box and click (move to end) within the same workbook then click OK. As a cause map grows we can show
what we learned over time within one Excel workbook.

END
cel Cause Map

nside the Excel

Draw. Placing your
nction

ne of the cause
he border of the box
s. Once the border
o pull up the copy
y copies of the box
elete it.

ith an 'A' and some

click the mouse
you prefer.

to create the
tton to pull up a
nments to centered

down the left mouse

on the Toolbar you
olding it down. You
, once the box has a

easier way. Click

x of nine connectors
nd hold down your
of your screen in
e the line connectors
ove the boxes
nector. The names
ecide to use the
on a cause map is
time on a cause

zation continue to
the evolution of the
ch stage of the cause
cular worksheet.
he Create a copy
grows we can show
on a cause map is
time on a cause

zation continue to
the evolution of the
ch stage of the cause
cular worksheet.
he Create a copy
grows we can show
 Cause Mapping - 3 Steps

Step 1. Problem Identify the Problem

Step 2. Analysis Identify the Causes

Step 3. Solutions Identify the Corrective Actions

 Cause Map

Nuplex (Botany) Resin Plant Feed Screw Failure

STARTING UNDER LOAD?

CHEMICAL
ATTACK
PROCEDURE
COMMUNICATION SHEAR PIN SHOWN ON
WRONG SREW DRAWING
BEHAVIOUR FOR APPL.
PLANNING
OWNERSHIP SHEAR PIN HAD BEEN
REPLACED BY SOLID
CHECKED AND WELDED PIN
DRAWING
EVIDENCE OF
INCORRECT PREVIOUS FAILURE
DESIGN AND WELD REPAIR
Production
Goals Impacted SCREW SHAFT AT
DRIVE END HAS HAD
HIGH LEVEL PROBE NOT CHECKED PROBE - SHEAR PIN HOLE
OVERLOADED DRILLED OUT AND A SS
WORKING? OK
SHEARPIN FITTED

BROKEN HOW CAN WE

NORMAL
RESIN FEED PREDICT FAILURE
WEAR
SCREW TIME?

SCREW TALK TO FITTERS RE CON MON? TALK TO RICK PIMBLOTT

Maintenance Goals NO EVIDENCE
JAMMED QUALITY OF REPAIRS
Impacted

SPROCKETS AND
MISALIGNED REVIEW REQUIREMENT FOR
CHAIN
DRIVE- AXIAL ITP POST MAINTENANCE
INSTALLED
LOAD WORK
POORLY SCREW HAD
ERROSIVE
DAMAGE (NORMAL
DRIVE TO CHECKED MOTOR / GEARBOX MAX TORQUE
WEAR)
LARGE FOR (AT FULL TORQUE THE MOTOR / GEARBOX MADE DISASSEMBLY
SCREW COULD NOT CAUSE AN UNDAMAGED SCREW REPAIR TIME DIFFICULT AS BEARING
DESIGN TO FAIL EXTENDED WOULD NOT SLIDE
OVER SHAFT

BOTTOM CHECKED BOTTOM BEARING - OK (END OF

BEARING SIEZED SHAFT DAMAGE FROM BEING TURNED WITH
STILLSONS NEED TO TURN SHAFT
MANUALLY AT TIMES TO
FREE
REDESIGN SHAFT END
TO ALLOW TURNING
WITH A SPANNER
INSTEAD OF A
STILLSON

NEW SS STUB END

NUT TIG WELDED TO

NEW STUB

file:///var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_7/350390968.xls