“Stay Calm, Think Clearly, Use the Team”
Problem solving doesn’t just require analytical, creative, and critical skills, but a particular mindset. Those who can approach a problem with a cool head will often reach a solution more effectively than those who cannot.
This is a safety champion tool that often relies on strong teamwork, too. Problems don’t always need to be solved alone. The ability to know who can help you reach a solution – and how they can do it – can be a great advantage. Consider the adage “Two heads are better than one.”
Good problem solvers:
- Report missing or unclear procedures
- Can assess the impact of various solutions
- Continue to seek a solution if the first solution doesn’t work
- Keep going when the first solution does not work
Research on aviation maintenance decision-making shows that troubleshooting often involves multiple decision points, and that fatigue, pressure, and distractions can interfere with judgment. That is why good problem solving starts with a cool head. Troubleshooting in aviation maintenance is also rarely a straight line, and effective decision-making depends on staying methodical as new information appears.
Problem solving also means thinking beyond the first answer. A quick fix is not always the right fix. Just as importantly, problems do not always need to be solved alone. In maintenance, knowing who to ask and when to ask is a strength, not a weakness.
Maintenance Resource Management literature defines MRM as collaboration and communication for maintenance safety and links it directly to communication, problem solving, and decision-making.
In practice, that means using the experience around you:
- a colleague
- an inspector
- a supervisor
or another specialist may see a risk or solution that you do not. Two heads are often better than one, especially when the task is complex or the situation is unusual.
What does good problem-solving look like?
- reporting missing or unclear procedures
- assessing the impact of different options before acting
- asking for help when needed
- continuing toward a safe and compliant solution if the first attempt does not resolve the issue
Strong problem solving is not just a technical skill. It is a safety behaviour.
More about Problem solving you can find in these sources:
Mrusek, B. (2020) Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance Decision-Making. Collegiate Aviation Review International. Available at: OSU CARI article and ERAU PDF.
Sian, B. and Robertson, M. (2006) Maintenance Resource Management Handbook. Available at: ERAU MRM Handbook.
Taylor, J.C. and Christensen, T. (2000) The evolution and effectiveness of Maintenance Resource Management (MRM). International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. Available at: ScienceDirect article.