Root Cause Analysis

Figure 15 : Example of Cause and Effect (Fishbone)

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Figure 16 : FMEA Quick Facts

Overview

Failure Modes ad Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a systematic procedure for the

analysis of a system to identify the potential failure modes, their causes and

effects on system performance (performance of immediate assembly and the

entire system or a process).

An FMEA can be described as a systematized group of activities intended to:

1) recognize and evaluate the potential failure of a product/process and its

effects, 2) identify actions which could eliminate or reduce the chance of

potential failure occurring, and 3) document the process. It is complementary

to the design process of defining positively what a design must do to satisfy

the customer.

History

Although engineers have always performed an FMEA type of analysis on their

designs and manufacturing processes, the first formal application of the FMEA

discipline was an innovation of the aerospace industry in the mid-1960s.