Possible Access Question (total beginner)

[SRobertson]

I work in manufacturing and am trying to build an interactive troubleshooting guide to help us solve problems quicker by focusing our attention on a most likely solution for a highest probable cause.

I have a troubleshooting document in word, but it is virtually unused.

I envision the guide having 3 user inputs (defect/problem, machine #, and product style) which prompt 2 outputs (cause and solution). Basically, i want the 3 inputs to narrow down the cause and soultion database to the point that only the remaining entries apply for a certain problem. Ideally, we'd also assign an occurence metric to the cause, and an effectiveness metric to the solution, in order to really make the guide useful.

Any thoughts? Can this be done in Access? Like I said, I am a total beginner (opened acces for the first time yesterday).



Thanks in advance,

Scott R.

[June7]

This is original! To me, anyway.

Possible data structure.

table of Defects_Problems

table of Machines

table of ProductStyles (might not be needed, how many styles?)

table of Causes

table of Solutions

table to relate the above, each field is a foreign key, a record for each and every possible valid combination
DefectID
MachineID
ProductID
CauseID
SolutionID

Have users make choices in comboboxes from list.