Root-Cause Tagging For Line Stoppages

A stoppage log should distinguish the observed event from its confirmed cause. An operator may record a conveyor stop immediately, while the underlying cause still requires an engineering or process review.

Use a short, consistent set of initial categories such as equipment, material supply, changeover, quality hold and staffing. Capture start and end times, the affected equipment and useful observations. Allow an unresolved category rather than forcing operators to invent a cause. Preserve the initial record when a reviewer later assigns a confirmed cause.

Review frequent and long stoppages together, checking whether different labels describe the same recurring problem. Assign corrective actions with an owner and due date, then examine whether the event returns. Avoid treating a dashboard's most common label as a proven root cause without supporting evidence.