Problem:

• Dealers reported suboptimal adhesion between trailers and solar panels.
• The issue was low occurrence, suggesting installation errors rather than a material defect.

Root Caus Analysis:

• Conducted fishbone diagram analysis to consider all potential causes:
• Adhesive quality
• Sealant properties
• Installation temperature
• Installation pressure
• Surface preparation & finish
• Determined that installation errors were the most likely cause.

Solution Approach:

1. Contacted the adhesive manufacturer to gather:
• Up-to-date product specifications
• Operating & installation temperature requirements
• Surface preparation guidelines
2. Compared findings to Thermo King’s installation manual.
• Identified slight discrepancies between the manual and adhesive requirements.
3. Reached out to Thermo King dealers to understand real-world installation practices.

Results & Impact:

• Identified misalignment between installation manual instructions and actual adhesive requirements.
• Updated the Thermo King installation manual to be clearer and more concise.
• Collaborated with publications team to implement the changes.
• Improved customer satisfaction by ensuring dealers had accurate installation guidance, reducing adhesion issues.