Failure Mode And Effect Analysis (Fmea) Definition

A failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a tool used to systematically identify the potential failure modes of a process or system, as well as the effects of each failure mode and the causes of each. The goal of an FMEA is to take proactive measures to prevent or mitigate failures before they occur.

There are three types of FMEAs: design, process, and equipment. Design FMEAs are used to identify potential failures in the design of a product or system. Process FMEAs are used to identify potential failures in manufacturing or assembly processes. Equipment FMEAs are used to identify potential failures in production line equipment.

The first step in conducting an FMEA is to brainstorm all potential failure modes for a given process or system. Once all potential failure modes have been identified, the team should then rate the severity, likelihood of occurrence, and detectability for each mode. Finally, the team should develop corrective actions for each high-risk failure mode.

Severity: How serious is the effect of the failure mode? A Severity rating is typically between 1 and 10, with 1 being the least severe and 10 being the most severe.

Likelihood of Occurrence: How often does the failure mode occur? An Occurrence rating is typically between 1 and 10, with 1 being very unlikely and 10 being very likely.

Detectability: How easy is it to detect the failure mode?