Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA; often written with "failure modes" in plural) is the process of

reviewing as many components, assemblies, and subsystems as possible to identify potential failure
modes in a system and their causes and effects. For each component, the failure modes and their
resulting effects on the rest of the system are recorded in a specific FMEA worksheet. There are
numerous variations of such worksheets. A FMEA can be a qualitative analysis,[1] but may be put on a
quantitative basis when mathematical failure rate models[2] are combined with a statistical failure mode
ratio database. It was one of the first highly structured, systematic techniques for failure analysis. It was
developed by reliability engineers in the late 1950s to study problems that might arise from malfunctions
of military systems. An FMEA is often the first step of a system reliability study.

A few different types of FMEA analyses exist, such as:

Functional

Design

Process

Types Edit

Functional: before design solutions are provided (or only on high level) functions can be evaluated on
potential functional failure effects. General Mitigations ("design to" requirements) can be proposed to
limit consequence of functional failures or limit the probability of occurrence in this early development.
It is based on a functional breakdown of a system. This type may also be used for Software evaluation.

Concept Design / Hardware: analysis of systems or subsystems in the early design concept stages to
analyse the failure mechanisms and lower level functional failures, specially to different concept
solutions in more detail. It may be used in trade-off studies.

Detailed Design / Hardware: analysis of products prior to production. These are the most detailed (in mil
1629 called Piece-Part or Hardware FMEA) FMEAs and used to identify any possible hardware (or other)
failure mode up to the lowest part level. It should be based on hardware breakdown (e.g. the BoM = Bill
of Material). Any Failure effect Severity, failure Prevention (Mitigation), Failure Detection and Diagnostics
may be fully analyzed in this FMEA.

Process: analysis of manufacturing and assembly processes. Both quality and reliability may be affected
from process faults. The input for this FMEA is amongst others a work process / task Breakdown.

Advantages

Emphasize problem prevention

Improve company image and competitiveness

Improve production yield

ncrease user satisfaction

Maximize profit

Uses Edit

Development of system requirements that minimize the likelihood of failures.

Development of designs and test systems to ensure that the failures have been eliminated or the risk is
reduced to acceptable level.

Development and evaluation of diagnostic systems

To help with design choices (trade-off analysis