Facing a major system failure in Control Engineering. How do you thrive under tight deadlines?

Action: Immediately collect relevant data, logs, and identify abnormal system behavior. Why: A swift assessment helps you understand the problem’s scope, enabling you to act fast and focus on effective solutions.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned early in my career is the importance of 'going to the spot.' Being on-site allows me to quickly leverage my training and experience to assess the situation and develop a course of action to pinpoint the root cause of the problem at the system level, ensuring that all system requirements are clearly defined and traceable.

During a project in automotive R&D, we faced intermittent communication issues with the infotainment system’s CAN bus. The system would drop out, causing screen glitches and audio interruptions, with critical testing approaching. To tackle it, I broke the problem into manageable parts. First, I isolated the issue by determining if the fault was limited to the infotainment or other systems. Then, I prioritized checking the physical CAN bus, ensuring connectors and signals were stable, before moving on to software diagnostics. I addressed the physical and software layers in parallel, adjusting for unexpected challenges. This methodical approach allowed us to resolve the issue before the testing deadline.

Action: Break the problem down into critical and non-critical issues, prioritize tasks, and map out a step-by-step solution. Why: A well-structured plan helps avoid hasty decisions, ensuring efficiency under pressure while maintaining focus on important fixes.

Action: Regularly update your team and stakeholders about the problem, the action plan, and the expected timelines. Why: Clear communication ensures everyone is aligned, reducing confusion and maintaining confidence during high-pressure situations.

Action: Follow the plan carefully, applying each fix with precision, and avoid rushing through any steps. Why: Precise execution prevents further errors, ensuring that you address the root cause without introducing new issues.

Execute Precisely. With a plan in hand, it's time to execute. Tackle each task with precision and focus, ensuring that every action contributes to resolving the failure. Monitor your progress against the timeline and adjust as necessary. Execution under tight deadlines demands not only technical skill but also discipline to stay on track and avoid shortcuts that could compromise the system further.

Action: Test the system after each fix to confirm everything is functioning as expected before moving forward. Why: Verifying every step ensures that the solution works, preventing repeated failures and ensuring the system is back online smoothly.

Action: Once resolved, review the process, identify what went well, and document areas for improvement. Why: Reflection helps optimize future responses, improving problem-solving skills and reducing the impact of future failures.