FMEA stands for failure modes and effects analysis. It is an analysis procedure to identify potential failure modes within a process for organization by severity and effect of failures on the process. More and more manufacturers are turning to FMEA, but it is also being utilized by non-manufacturing businesses.

Failure modes are defined as defects or errors within a design, product or procedure that are concrete or abstract failures. Failure modes are usually limited to issues that directly effect the consumer. The other part of FMEA, effects analysis, estimates the most common consequences of the determined failures.

It is difficult to analyze individual failures, so FMEA Software promotes the organization and review of failure modes as categories. FMEA encourages organizations to preemptively identify viable alternatives to procedures that are most likely to cause high impact failures. Some modes that seem efficient are to be ineffective due to inevitable defects thanks to the FMEA process.

FMEA can be applied to almost any organization, but to be successful, the implemented software needs to be flexible. FMEA Software is extremely dependent on the structure and procedures within a company most software is not effective. A tailored system is needed for an FMEA system to consolidate data and provide decision makers with relevant conclusions. Systems that do not have a direct relationship with the company’s structure will fail upon implementation.

Cambridge Manufacturing Journals


Manufacturing.gov