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Table of Contents

Downtime Log Help Guide

Track repeated machine stoppages over time, then use Pareto analysis to focus on the biggest losses first.

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What this tool does

The Downtime Log is a machine-based record of downtime events. Instead of creating one report per incident, you keep adding events to the same machine log over time.

  • One saved report represents one machine log
  • Each log can contain many downtime events
  • The log automatically summarizes total downtime, cost, and category Pareto patterns

When to use it

  • You want to track recurring breakdowns or waiting losses on one machine
  • You need a simple downtime Pareto without a full OEE system
  • You want to connect downtime events to NCR, RCA, or SPC work
  • You need a report you can revisit and update over days or weeks

1 Create the machine log

Enter the machine name, optional line or area, company name, and a default hourly cost rate. This creates the container for all future downtime events.

Tip
Use a machine name people already recognize on the shop floor so the log is easy to find later in the dashboard.
Click to view screenshot

2 Add the event details

Record the date, duration, category, planned/unplanned status, description, and reporter. Keep the description specific enough to recognize recurring failures later.

Tip
If the event came from an NCR, start the downtime entry from that NCR so the quality hold category and report reference are pre-filled.
Click to view screenshot

3 Capture impact and linked reports

Add units lost, estimated cost, resolution, preventive action, and any linked NCR, RCA, or SPC report IDs. You can also jump directly to new NCR or RCA forms from this step.

Tip
Use the default hourly rate for fast cost estimates, then override it only when an event needs a different rate.
Click to view screenshot

4 Review the log and Pareto chart

The log page shows total downtime, event count, average duration, and a Pareto chart by category. Click a Pareto bar to filter the event list to that category.

Tip
Start improvement work with the category causing the most total minutes, not just the highest number of events.
Click to view screenshot

5 Export and continue later

Download a PDF report or share the saved log. Because the tool uses saved reports, you can reopen the same machine log later from the dashboard and keep adding events.

Tip
Use QC-Coach on the log page when you want help prioritizing the best improvement target from the whole downtime history.
Click to view screenshot

Practical tips

  1. Use consistent categories so the Pareto chart stays meaningful over time.
  2. Link quality-related downtime to NCRs and unstable-process downtime to SPC reports whenever possible.
  3. Review the log weekly to see whether breakdowns are clustering around one system or shift.

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