Help With Product Reports, Tracking Vehicle Failures

[jons999]

I'm trying to come up with a form to help me track problems with new vehicles. I'm not concerned with issues that are caused with customer damage, A/M accessories, etc. But i would like to track issues related to pattern failures of components, poor design, engineering issues, etc. The form should be short enough to be quickly filled out in the field but comprehensive at the same time. How should all this be worded, and organized and what info should I include to make it look like a professional document that can be submitted to engineers to help fix the problems? So far i will include VIN number, customer info, customer complaint, conditions to reproduce problem, diagnosis steps and testing results, cause of problem, resolution to problem, and failed compent info. Anything else?

-Jon

 

[patprimmer]

Date might be handy.

If data comes from USA and anywhere else in the world, use a word format for month as 9/11/06 in USA is 11/9/06 anywhere else. It can lead to errors.

Region of normal use.

Manner of use.

Mileage.

Evidence of service.

Brands/grades of lubricants, coolants etc that contact the part.

The type of info I am suggesting might help in a case like:-

Problem: Leaky radiator
Resolution: Replace Radiator
Region: Orange County and San Diego

Analysis shows 70% of premature radiator failures occur in the above areas. 30% of cars in this region have premature radiator failures.

All cars with failures used xyz coolant.

No cars with coolant ABC failed.

All cars with failures normally operated in areas with water supplied from the same reservoir




Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[Fabrico]

There are also the widely used repair codes used by the ATA (American Trucking Association). These are catagorized in groups such as system codes, part failure codes, work accomplished codes, and reason for repair codes. The system is used for managing parts, labor, payroll, waranty repairs, and costs per mile.

 

[jbthiel]

Expanding on Patprimmers suggestions:
manner of use
- if it is a truck -- are they are towing, if so how much?
- urban, city, highway, etc.

Also
- date/milage when issue occured
- age/gender of primary driver
- normal grade of fuel used