Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Failure Modes Effects analysis (FMEA) is used during the development of new products and processes to identify, control and eliminate the causes of failure, while mitigating the effects of  faults or error conditions that may arise. This is achieved by introducing controls including:-

• Prevention Controls to eliminate or reduce the causes of failure, and
• Detection Controls to give warning of a fault or error condition

The level of risk associated with particular failure modes is determined by considering:-

• The effects the failure will have when it occurs (Severity), and 
• The chance that the causes of failure will be present (Occurrence), and
• The ability to detect when the error condition is present (Detection) so that the consequences of the failure are reduced or avoided.

FMEA is therefore an essential part of the risk management strategy, and you can learn more here..

• Why use Failure Mode Effect Analysis 
• Types of FMEA
• FMEA Method
• Potential Failure Modes
• Effects of Failure
• Causes of Failure
• FMEA Controls
• FMEA Training
  

Why Use Failure Modes Effects Analysis

The FMEA process captures and documents what is known about:-

• How the product or process may fail to meet the customer's expectations (The failure modes), 
• The consequences of failure, within the extended supply chain or in use. (The effects of failure)
• The potential causes of failure, including errors and omissions in the specification, design or production process that could generate, or allow, the failure to occur
• The controls or countermeasures  introduced to prevent failure, by eliminating the causes, or to detect the error condition and alert you potential  failure so that the effects can be mitigated or avoided.

Any action that is identified in the FMEA  to reduce and eliminate the causes of failure or alert you to the failure condition is  a CONTROL in FMEA terminology. Implementing appropriate controls identified in the FMEA will improve product quality, reduce or eliminate failures and prevent loss or injury caused by product defects. 

Types of FMEA

Product failures maybe caused by errors or omissions (mistakes) in the way the product or process has been:-

• Specified, 
• Designed, 
• Processed during production, or
• Maintained and Used

Anything that 'prevents' or 'detects' a failure mode, fault condition or non-conformance is described as a control in the FMEA, but these are often documented in different ways, as shown in the examples below:-

Examples of Controls

These controls contribute to the risk management strategy, minimising the risk of failure and potential product liability claims. 

The FMEA process can be simplified if we align the FMEA with the 'control documents' shown above, and use separate FMEAs to identify the possible failure modes and appropriate controls in each of these documents,  often developed at different stages in the project.   

Adopting this approach allows the use of different FMEAs as described below:-

FMEAs Aligned to Control Documents

Each of the FMEAs is compiled using a similar process, with content that reflects the purpose of the FMEA and the type of controls that can used to reduce or eliminate the identified failure modes at that stage of development.

FMEA Method

Failure Modes Effects Analysis is normally undertaken by a team of people with knowledge and experience of the product or process under consideration. 

FMEA Process Flow Diagram

Potential Failure Modes

A failure mode describes how (not why) a product or process may fail to satisfy a known requirement or the customer's expectations. When the requirements have been clearly defined or agreed, describing possible failure modes becomes relatively simple, for example:-

Examples of Potential Failure Modes

Because the potential failure modes are related to the functional requirements or customer expectations of the product or process, it is essential that these are well defined during the FMEA process. Whenever possible the 'requirements'  should also be quantified with specific targets, rather than being vague statements of intent.

Effects of Failure

The effects of failure documented in the FMEA assume that the potential failure mode will occur and describe the direct and predictable effect of the failure on the production process, or the users experience of the product. It is good practice to describe the effects of failure as they would be experienced at the next stage of the production process, or by the user, without indulging in wild speculation. 

However, if an error or omission in production could pass through the system undetected and reach the customer you must consider the impact the non-conforming part may have on the user's experience.

Causes of Failure

Although every failure mode will have at least one possible 'cause of failure', many will have several 'potential causes' that must be recognised and controlled if failure is to be avoided.

The 'causes of failure' describe the specific errors and omissions in the design or production process that could generate or allow the failure mode being considered. If all the causes of failure can be identified and eliminated, then the failure mode will also be eliminated.

FMEA Controls

The  risk of failure can only be reduced by implementing controls that:-

• Prevent and eliminate the causes of failure, or
• Detect a 'fault condition' and allow corrective action to be taken to prevent or mitigate the consequences of that fault condition of failure

Effective risk reduction strategies normally rely on  a combination of Prevention Controls, to reduce the 'occurrence' of failure and Detection Controls that warn of a 'fault condition' associated with particular failure modes. However, detection controls are only effective if they enable somebody to take 'corrective action' to avoid the failure, or at least 'contain the problem'. The use of 'detection controls' therefore implies that you have a 'reaction plan' to deal with the problem when it is detected.

FMEA Training

Stunell Technology works with the Excel Partnership to deliver 'in-house' and public training courses for FMEA team members and leaders. 

Our 'in-house training' can be arranged on your premises for groups of up to 16 delegates, or you would be welcome on one of our public courses shown here.

For more information, help or advice about using FMEAs please contact Phil Stunell

Updated 7 December 2010 - All rights Reserved

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