TROUBLESHOOTING IN AUTOMATION: A CRITICAL SKILL
One of the most important skills you can develop throughout this program is the ability to troubleshoot. Knowing how to systematically troubleshoot will help you fix problems faster and better. This makes you more valuable to your employer.
Technology changes quickly and will continue to change. Because of this, it is critical that you understand the principles behind troubleshooting, so that you can adapt to changing technology.
REVIEW THE TROUBLESHOOTING METHODOLOGY
You should have learned about Bridgerland Technical College's Troubleshooting Methodology in the first course of this program.
You will learn how to fix current and future problems as you:
The Four Parts of the Troubleshooting Methodology
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Gather information about the issue and make observations.
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Identify possible causes of why the system isn't working correctly.
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- Define and reduce the problem area(s) within the system.
- Learn what instrumentation to use when testing and diagnosing broken systems.
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Replace or fix the broken part of the system.
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Observe the fixed system operating correctly.
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- Fill out the required documentation.
- Keep solving new problems and gain experience.
If you need a more thorough review of the troubleshooting methodology, see the page below.
Troubleshooting Overview
TROUBLESHOOTING THROUGHOUT THIS COURSE
You will also learn how to troubleshoot throughout this course.
Videos
- As you are introduced to new components and tools throughout this course, you will watch a video that shows how to apply the troubleshooting methodology to an individual component.
Lab Work
- As you are completing labs, apply what you learned from the troubleshooting videos to solve problems in your labs.
Reference Pages
- Each component has a "reference page" that contains a troubleshooting video and a list of possible causes and how to identify them. Each time a component is used in a lab, it will be linked to its reference page. Use these reference pages as a reminder of how to troubleshoot specific components.
Troubleshooting Review
- At the end of the course, you should have looked at each reference page at least once. You also should have watched each video at least once. If not, do it again to prepare for the final lab.
Final Troubleshooting Assignment in the Course
- The final assignment of this course will require you to troubleshoot a system.
FUTURE TROUBLESHOOTING TASKS
Assessments
In future classes, you will complete timed assessments. You will use the troubleshooting methodology to find and repair a fault quickly and efficiently. Being familiar with the troubleshooting methodology and how to troubleshoot individual components will help you complete these assessments effectively.
