Evidence-based methodologies for systematic fault diagnosis in complex technical systems
Troubleshooting complex equipment doesn't have to be a guessing game. Research-validated methodologies like Structured Troubleshooting and Kepner-Tregoe provide systematic frameworks that enable technicians to diagnose faults faster, more accurately, and with greater confidence. These approaches are grounded in cognitive psychology and proven in real-world industrial and military applications. This groundbreaking work, along with industry best practices, inform the troubleshooting coaching agents that are available to help your employees troubleshoot more effectively - no matter what domain they are working in.
Below you'll find comprehensive guides to the methodologies that underpin our work, plus academic research links to explore the underlying science.
A comprehensive guide based on the research of Schaafstal, Schraagen & van Berlo. Learn how to change your technicians’ diagnostic strategy from component level to top-down system function. Includes worked examples, common pitfalls, and implementation strategies validated in military and industrial settings.
Download GuideMaster the four core KT processes: Situation Appraisal, Problem Analysis, Decision Analysis, and Potential Problem Analysis. This guide distills the classic methodology from "The Rational Manager" into practical, actionable steps with IS/IS NOT specification frameworks and worked examples.
Download GuideDiscover how Large Language Models can transform your troubleshooting practice — while avoiding costly pitfalls. This guide explores how leading organizations are deploying LLMs to accelerate diagnostics and improve outcomes across manufacturing and industrial equipment, IT infrastructure and software systems, and healthcare and medical devices.
Download GuideExplore the academic literature on structured troubleshooting methodologies. Access peer-reviewed research from Schaafstal, Schraagen, Kepner, Tregoe, and other researchers in cognitive task analysis, diagnostic reasoning, and systematic problem-solving approaches.
Search Google ScholarDeveloped by researchers at the TNO Human Factors Research Institute in the Netherlands, Structured Troubleshooting combines a domain-independent diagnostic strategy with system-specific functional decompositions. The method demonstrated that technicians trained in ST solved twice as many malfunctions in less time than traditionally trained peers.
Core Components:
Created by Charles Kepner and Benjamin Tregoe based on RAND Corporation research with U.S. Air Force officers, the KT method provides four distinct processes for rational problem management. First published in "The Rational Manager" (1965), it has been adopted globally by organizations from NASA to manufacturing firms.
The Four Processes:
Both methodologies are grounded in cognitive psychology research showing that expert problem-solvers use systematic, structured approaches rather than ad hoc trial-and-error. The key insight: diagnostic expertise comes not just from domain knowledge, but from how that knowledge is organized and applied.
By making expert thinking patterns explicit and teachable, these frameworks dramatically accelerate the path from novice to proficient troubleshooter—reducing training time while improving diagnostic accuracy and speed.