

Preventive action is possible using failure mode and effects (FMEA) and fault tree analysis (FTA) before full-scale production, and these methods can also be used for failure analysis.

Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failure of a similar kind. The methods of forensic engineering are useful in tracing problems in products or processes, and a wide range of analytical techniques are available to determine the cause or causes of specific failures. Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms.Ī system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination-eliminating potential causes of a problem. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again.

Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. JSTOR ( June 2010) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.
