About Shainin

Stop Drowning. Start Solving. And Get Really Good At It.

Partner with a team that will get you there

Solving problems shouldn't be what holds you back from delivering For Your customers

Let’s be real. Hearing “we’re going to source another vendor” or “we’re having too many failures” from your stakeholders is never a good place to be.

Because no matter how much your customer likes you,
repeated failures and problems can’t be overlooked.

And that’s where
we come in…

You need different. And we do things differently to get you better results.

We’re Shainin

Here to TRANSFORM how
you solve problems.
Dorain Shainin smiling for a photo in black and white

A problem solving company wasn’t originally the goal. But after years of helping companies around the world get better quality products, fewer defects, and higher reliability, Dorian Shainin formalized his methods of helping others into:

Simple & Powerful Problem-solving tools

for any business

No matter 
the industry

Over the years,

We’ve helped businesses in multiple industries solve their chronic quality problems and business process disruptions.

Companies like Bosch & Phillips have partnered with us to develop problem solving programs to develop their teams into expert problem solvers.

For a team that began as one man, we’re proud to assist companies in transforming how they solve problems to an efficient solving machine with impressive speed.

Dorian Shainin discussing the Shainin Method in an interview

Our Different Approach

Simple in Form

We believe problem solving tools shouldn’t take a masters degree in statistics to use. Our process and tools have been refined & honed to make them approachable for everyone on your team.

Focus

Solving complex problems requires focus. We take time to fully define the problem we’re working on before jumping in. Our main focus is the root of the problem causing your specific pain.

Y to X

You don’t have to know all the causes of variation, just the ones that matter. We start with the outcome and converge to the root cause, not the other way around. It works, and it works fast.

Doing things differently

Focus on what matters

Many companies live with unsolved problems. But they don’t have to. Our client’s challenges wake us up in the morning and sometimes keep us up at night, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We believe that every problem is solveable with the right tools and the right team. From decades of innovations to hiring the right team, we feel we’ve got the perfect combination of tools and team to truly transform how organizations solve their most critical problems.

A team of innovators

Making life Easier with innovative methods

The Shainin Team is driven by a need to help solve problems. We work in some of the most complex industries in the world. Combine that with being the go-to problem-solving partner to fortune 100 companies and high-volume manufacturers pushes us to innovate each day to make life easier.

Our team is inspired by the new challenges that our partners bring and is constantly working to create the simple but effective solutions and tools to serve them best.

We get to learn new things and help our clients regain confidence in their operations and teams every day. We think there’s no better way to use our skills than that.

Three problem solvers discussing and examining an automotive cover
Interested in joining our team?

Meet the leaders

Craig Hysong Headshot
President & CEO
Craig Hysong

Read Bio >

John Abrahamian Headshot
Executive VP - Problem Solving
John Abrahamian

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Dick Shainin Headshot
Executive VP - Training services
Dick Shainin

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Constantin Berg Headshot
VP of Operations
Constantin Berg

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Picture Placeholder - Currently off training the problem solvers of tomorrow
Gen. Manager - Latin America
Sergio Lizarraga

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Picture Placeholder - Currently assigned to an urgent problem solving engagement
Technical Director
Esther Fondermann

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Image Placeholder - Currentlly busy improving products & services around the world
Director Business Development
Tom Smith

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Image Placeholder - Currentlly busy improving products & services around the world
CFO
Diane Schwarzkopf

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Gina Rozak Headshot
General Counsel
Gina Rozak

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Pete Shainin Headshot
Chairman
Pete Shainin

Read Bio >

Never Out of Reach

Worldwide Resources

We are never out of reach. You have access to our global network of experts who concentrate their knowledge and expertise on the issues that matter to you.

Shainin combines global scale with local focus. In most places, our team will not only speak your language, we will understand your customs and how business gets done.

Greyscale map of Shainin Worldwide locations
Seattle skyline at night in a hexagon frame
Seattle, Wa - USA

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Detroit Skyline in the daytime in a hexagon shaped frame
Detroit, MI - USA

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Sao Paulo Skyline in the daytime in a hexagon shaped frame
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Munich Skyline in the daytime in a hexagon shaped frame
Munich, Germany

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Pune Skyline at dusk in a hexagon shaped frame
Pune, India

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Shanghai Skyline in the daytime in a hexagon shaped frame
Shanghai, China

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Complex issues require innovation

Review our Decades of Innovation

After decades of innovation, we’ve developed the ideal combination of statistical rigor and simplified tools to create a transformative problem solving approach.

Examining Parts

“Talk to the Parts”

Talking to the parts moves away from speculating about what could be wrong and provides a structured, disciplined approach that gets you to the real culprit in a more efficient manner.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Light Graphs over Red Background

Service Monitoring

 
Service Monitoring is a method for discovering dangerous failure modes when new products are put into actual service. The purpose for service monitoring is to supplement lab testing in anticipation of environmental stresses that aren’t expected. This can expose serious problems before they impact the customer.
Category: Product Development & Reliability
Large 3D Serif Red X

Red X Principle

 
When you have a challenging problem with a hidden source, often the instinct is go through every potential driver of the issue. However, the Red X principle allows you to converge on the single driver that contributes to most of the variation, allowing you to quickly identify and understand the problem.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Multiple mechanical components laid on table neatly

Component Search

 
Component Search was born from a serious issue with hydraulics in airplanes. This technique isolates components in a system that contribute to variations. It is a highly disciplined, structured approach that allows the user to quickly isolate whether the problem is coming from the assembly process or from the parts, then pinpoints WHICH parts are contributing to the difference.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Apollo 13 Command Module post mission

Overstress Probe Testing

 
Overstress probe testing is a method Dorian developed to support Grumman in the development of the lunar module in the Apollo program. NASA required the lunar module have a reliability of 99.99%, or 1 failure in 10,000 missions. In the field of reliability, what’s meaningful is the ability to predict reliability with confidence. With overstress probe testing, Dorian could get 90% confidence for 99.99% reliability, which won him the contract. Used in the Apollo program, the lunar module was 100% reliable. In fact, in Apollo 13, the service module exploded, and the command module was damaged. Because the lunar module was so reliable, the astronauts were saved. In short, this testing helps users identify failure modes they wouldn’t otherwise anticipate.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Graph of data outside of limits

Tolerance Parallelogram

 
The Tolerance Parallelogram is a graphical technique that allows engineers to establish tolerances for the Red X that are related to their customers’ actual experience. Most tolerances established for manufacturing are based on design engineer judgement; however, this technique allows engineers to establish realistic tolerances so that the product performs to customer expectations.
CATEGORY: Process Management & Control
Typewriter vs computer

B vs C

 
This simple, quick statistical test determines if a new design or method is better than the current one. Completed with extraordinarily small sample sizes, this test can be used to test a potential solution in manufacturing problems.
CATEGORY: Confirmation Testing
Measurement Method: Calipers with parts sitting on a technical drawing

Isoplot

 
This graphical technique allows engineers to assess the variability of a measurement system. This helps them see key differences as well as determine how much of the variation is due to measurement variation and how much is coming from the parts themselves.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Red Question mark piled on top of black question marks

Variable Search

 
Variable Search allows customers to experiment with more factors without resorting to a fractional factorial. It also allows designed experiments to be completed with more than four factors without confounding.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving

Two red puzzle pieces being comparedPaired Comparison

Allows users to identify the specific feature or input that’s driving a ifference, making it a detailed tool for identifying the Red X. It gets the customer to the final answer.

CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving

 

Man holding domino with effectiveness on it and inserting it into his process dominos

Rolling Top 5

 
Rolling Top 5 is a system that brings structure and discipline to the leadership role on problem-solving teams. Even better, it magnifies the impact of problem-solving programs, at least doubling the ROI of the program!
CATEGORY: Executive Coaching
Part being Measured

Tolerance Ellipse

The tolerance ellipse allows the user to establish tolerances for two inputs together, called a Red X and a strong pink X. It also allows the user to establish two customer-identified inputs that are important, giving more flexibility in choosing significant inputs.
CATEGORY: Process Management & Control
Strategy spelled on yellow blocks

FACTUAL

Every problem-solving method needs a roadmap. For RedX, FACTUAL functions as the structure for finding and controlling Red Xs, leading the user to the hidden cause of complex technical problems when it matters most.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Process Improvement chalk board Graphic

TransaXional Strategies

 
Technical problem solving is one thing, but business process problems are another. Technical problems are bound by physics, but business processes aren’t. Our journey to assist customers in business process problem solving started as a single customer challenge, but we found we loved it. This led to the creation of the TransaXional method, a solidified roadmap for solving business process problems.
CATEGORY: Business Process Improvement & Optimization
Blank problem solving Function model

Function Models

 
A function model is a functional base description of a system in order to identify how it really works. This Y to X approach helps users understand how processes actually work, which provides a robust frame for the process that is being perfected.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Red Strategy line through maze

Strategy Diagram

 
The Strategy Diagram is a tool for documenting the structure of a system. This allows the problem solver to make choices as to which strategy is going to be most efficient, which helps the user map out exactly where to focus their efforts in terms of testing the system.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Strategy spelled on yellow blocks

DETAIL

 
Every problem solving method needs a roadmap. For TransaXional, DETAIL functions as the structure for solving business process problems, aiding problem solvers in pinpointing the hidden causes of these serious problems.
CATEGORY: Business Process Improvement & Optimization
Product Design and Launch strategy session

Resilient Engineering

This system is ideal for new process and product development. It provides users with a finite number of functions that must go right in order for the system to work, which helps companies achieve a trouble-free product launch.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Red Question Mark on top of other question marks

NTF or No Trouble Found

 
This problem-solving method is designed to combat those problems where the answer has previously been “NTF,” or no trouble found. It allows users to address challenging problems when it appears there is no issue present.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Handdrawn decision tree

Corrective Action Trees

This is a tried-and-true method of documenting the structured innovation required when the Red X turns out to be outside of the manufacturer’s control. When outside energy is causing failure, the corrective action tree finds what options users have to make up for issues that are present.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Examining Parts

"Talk to the Parts"

Talking to the parts moves away from speculating about what could be wrong and provides a structured, disciplined approach that gets you to the real culprit in a more efficient manner.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Light Graphs over Red Background

Service Monitoring

Service Monitoring is a method for discovering dangerous failure modes when new products are put into actual service. The purpose for service monitoring is to supplement lab testing in anticipation of environmental stresses that aren’t expected. This can expose serious problems before they impact the customer.
Category: Product Development & Reliability
Large 3D Serif Red X

Red X Principle

When you have a challenging problem with a hidden source, often the instinct is go through every potential driver of the issue. However, the Red X principle allows you to converge on the single driver that contributes to most of the variation, allowing you to quickly identify and understand the problem.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Multiple mechanical components laid on table neatly

Component Search

Component Search was born from a serious issue with hydraulics in airplanes. This technique isolates components in a system that contribute to variations. It is a highly disciplined, structured approach that allows the user to quickly isolate whether the problem is coming from the assembly process or from the parts, then pinpoints WHICH parts are contributing to the difference.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Apollo 13 Command Module post mission

Overstress Probe Testing

Overstress probe testing is a method Dorian developed to support Grumman in the development of the lunar module in the Apollo program. NASA required the lunar module have a reliability of 99.99%, or 1 failure in 10,000 missions. In the field of reliability, what’s meaningful is the ability to predict reliability with confidence. With overstress probe testing, Dorian could get 90% confidence for 99.99% reliability, which won him the contract. Used in the Apollo program, the lunar module was 100% reliable. In fact, in Apollo 13, the service module exploded, and the command module was damaged. Because the lunar module was so reliable, the astronauts were saved. In short, this testing helps users identify failure modes they wouldn’t otherwise anticipate.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Graph of data outside of limits

Tolerance Parallelogram

 
The Tolerance Parallelogram is a graphical technique that allows engineers to establish tolerances for the Red X that are related to their customers’ actual experience. Most tolerances established for manufacturing are based on design engineer judgement; however, this technique allows engineers to establish realistic tolerances so that the product performs to customer expectations.
CATEGORY: Process Management & Control
Typewriter vs computer

B vs C

 
This simple, quick statistical test determines if a new design or method is better than the current one. Completed with extraordinarily small sample sizes, this test can be used to test a potential solution in manufacturing problems.
CATEGORY: Confirmation Testing
Measurement Method: Calipers with parts sitting on a technical drawing

Isoplot

 
This graphical technique allows engineers to assess the variability of a measurement system. This helps them see key differences as well as determine how much of the variation is due to measurement variation and how much is coming from the parts themselves.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Red Question mark piled on top of black question marks

Variable Search

 
Variable Search allows customers to experiment with more factors without resorting to a fractional factorial. It also allows designed experiments to be completed with more than four factors without confounding.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Two red puzzle pieces being compared

Paired Comparison

A paired comparison allows users to identify the specific feature or input that’s driving a difference, making it a detailed tool for identifying the Red X. In short, it helps pinpoint the hidden cause of the problem quickly and easily.

CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Man holding domino with effectiveness on it and inserting it into his process dominos

Rolling Top 5

Rolling Top 5 is a system that brings structure and discipline to the leadership role on problem-solving teams. Even better, it magnifies the impact of problem-solving programs, at least doubling the ROI of the program!
CATEGORY: Executive Coaching
Part being Measured

Tolerance Ellipse

The tolerance ellipse allows the user to establish tolerances for two inputs together, called a Red X and a strong pink X. It also allows the user to establish two customer-identified inputs that are important, giving more flexibility in choosing significant inputs.
CATEGORY: Process Management & Control
Strategy spelled on yellow blocks

FACTUAL

Every problem-solving method needs a roadmap. For RedX, FACTUAL functions as the structure for finding and controlling Red Xs, leading the user to the hidden cause of complex technical problems when it matters most.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Process Improvement chalk board Graphic

TransaXional Strategies

 
Technical problem solving is one thing, but business process problems are another. Technical problems are bound by physics, but business processes aren't. Our journey to assist customers in business process problem solving started as a single customer challenge, but we found we loved it. This led to the creation of the TransaXional method, a solidified roadmap for solving business process problems.
CATEGORY: Business Process Improvement & Optimization
Blank problem solving Function model

Function Models

 
A function model is a functional base description of a system in order to identify how it really works. This Y to X approach helps users understand how processes actually work, which provides a robust frame for the process that is being perfected.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Red Strategy line through maze

Strategy Diagram

 
The Strategy Diagram is a tool for documenting the structure of a system. This allows the problem solver to make choices as to which strategy is going to be most efficient, which helps the user map out exactly where to focus their efforts in terms of testing the system.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving
Strategy spelled on yellow blocks

DETAIL

 
Every problem solving method needs a roadmap. For TransaXional, DETAIL functions as the structure for solving business process problems, aiding problem solvers in pinpointing the hidden causes of these serious problems.
CATEGORY: Business Process Improvement & Optimization
Product Design and Launch strategy session

Resilient Engineering

This system is ideal for new process and product development. It provides users with a finite number of functions that must go right in order for the system to work, which helps companies achieve a trouble-free product launch.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Red Question Mark on top of other question marks

NTF or No Trouble Found

 
This problem-solving method is designed to combat those problems where the answer has previously been "NTF," or no trouble found. It allows users to address challenging problems when it appears there is no issue present.
CATEGORY: Product Development & Reliability
Handdrawn decision tree

Corrective Action Trees

This is a tried-and-true method of documenting the structured innovation required when the Red X turns out to be outside of the manufacturer’s control. When outside energy is causing failure, the corrective action tree finds what options users have to make up for issues that are present.
CATEGORY: Complex Technical Problem Solving

Innovative structure & refined simplicity that yields speed to resolution

Let our team of dedicated problem solvers help resolve your most impactful issues. Contact us today to team up!

Why Y->X works

Learn about our Methods

Dorian Awards Criteria

Master of the year Award

The Master of the Year Award is for leaders who have increased the impact of problem solving using Shainin technologies within their organization.

To be considered for this award, the submission must meet the following criteria:

  • Applies leadership skills to expand the impact of Red X technologies within the organizatio
  • Results including projects completed that made a significant impact to improving business performance
  • The number of individuals coached to certification

Dorian Awards Criteria

RT5 Leadership Award

The Rolling Top 5 Leadership Award is for leaders who have increased the impact of problem solving using Shainin technologies within their organization.

To be considered for this award, the submission must meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates leadership guidance, structural framework, and effective mentoring of a dynamic problem-solving culture
  • Conducts regular reviews to ensure that key projects are solved quickly and efficiently
  • Encourages major suppliers and customers to jointly solve problems by using Shainin methods and leveraging the results
  • Actively recognizes and rewards outstanding performance in problem- solving
  • The number of successful projects and certifications

Dorian Awards Criteria

Team Project Awards

This category of awards is for project teams who have demonstrated outstanding application of Shainin methodologies in solving complex problems within their company.

To be considered for this award, the submission must meet the following criteria:

  • Speed and efficiency of the problem solved
  • Technical difficulty and complexity of the problem solved
  • Project impact and leverage across the organization
  • Creative use of Shainin technologies
  • Clarity of the project documentation

Dorian Awards Criteria

Company Award

This category of awards is for companies who have succesfully developed a Red X Program within a facility, division, region, or company and can demonstrate impactful improvements based on that development.

To be considered for this award, the submission must meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates impact of Shainin technology greatly improving key business metrics. 
  • Examples include: scrap reduction, yield improvement, throughput, warranty reductions, field failure avoidance, and other technical solutions resulting in savings. 
  • Enables a successful launch of a new program or product.