Common FMEA Confusions
Abstract
Carl and Fred discuss common FMEA confusions that come up from time to time. These are condensed from questions that Carl gets from “Inside FMEA” readers.
ᐅ Play Episode
Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
Carl and Fred discuss common FMEA confusions that come up from time to time. These are condensed from questions that Carl gets from “Inside FMEA” readers.
ᐅ Play Episode
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
[Last month I mentioned that the next article would be on the subject of the application of models in the FMEA process. I am postponing that important topic, in order to do more research. Stay tuned . . .]
This month, I want to discuss one of the most common problems that FMEA teams face: getting confused about the difference between failure modes, effects and causes.
“Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many.” Phaedrus
by Dianna Deeney Leave a Comment
In the realm of risk assessment and management, traditional tools like Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and risk matrices have been widely accepted as the norm. However, beneath the surface of these established methods lie hidden flaws of FMEA and risk matrices that can significantly impact the effectiveness of risk analysis and decision-making processes. The latest podcast episode takes a deep dive into these issues, offering listeners an exploration of the challenges posed by conventional risk assessment techniques.
The episode emphasizes the importance of staying informed and adapting to new methods in the ever-evolving landscape of risk management. By doing so, professionals can ensure that they are not only equipped to handle current challenges but also prepared to meet the demands of the future.
by Christopher Jackson Leave a Comment
Ever heard of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)? It is a wonderful activity that can do amazing things for … what? It depends on what you might have heard or what you are used to. Why? Because there are several different FMEAs that do different things for … different things. A Design FMEA can help us prevent really basic, simple flaws in a new product. A Process FMEA can help us prevent really basic, simple flaws in a new process. What process? Any process … but typically manufacturing. Many people who have heard of FMEAs usually associate them with either design or processes. Then, there are System and Software FMEAs. Want to get an overview of which FMEAs do what and when you would use one instead of the other? Join us for this webinar.
[Read more…]by Christopher Jackson Leave a Comment
Everyone knows why we do reliability, and reliability things like FMEAs. Customer experience. Organization reputation. Reduced warranty claims 10 years from now. But these are boring reasons that really don’t motivate me to take FMEAs seriously now. Why should I invest so much time into an activity that benefits the ‘company’ or the ‘customer’ in the future but won’t make an immediate difference when my boss will give me a ‘gold star’ on my next performance appraisal? Right? Wrong! [Read more…]
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
[This is a companion article to “Using Design FMEAs to Identify Special Product Characteristics.” These two articles should be read in sequence.]
Identification and application of special product and process characteristics help to focus assembly and manufacturing processes on the most important areas, in order to achieve the right outcomes.
“Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding” – Brian Greene
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
“Science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding…” – Brian Greene
Properly done, Process FMEAs should improve manufacturing and assembly processes and corresponding process controls. This article describes how PFMEAs can be used to improve process controls, which are embodied in the Process Control Plan (PCP).
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
FMEA teams should agree to the ground rules that guide the analysis and the underlying assumptions that impact the entire FMEA. Failure to do so will add complexity and confusion to the resulting FMEA, and waste people’s time. Don’t miss this important step in FMEA preparation.
“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” Isaac Asimov
With the Inside FMEA series of articles, my intention is to bring to life the subject of FMEA, and provide value to readers from all levels of experience.
Whether you are new to FMEA, or an FMEA expert, it is my sincere desire that each and every person who reads Inside FMEA articles will discover new insights about FMEA, and experience improved success in FMEA applications.
by Les Warrington Leave a Comment
I have been working with clients recently who are keen users of FMEA. Getting engineers to contribute potential failures and their causes is not a problem with these clients, but ensuring that actions are correctly identified and followed up is not so easy. So, what goes wrong? What differentiates a good FMEA from a great FMEA? [Read more…]
by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment
In this Q and A article, a reader asks an interesting question about whether or not to update a System FMEA, when making subsequent changes to lower-level items. This is an excellent question, and shows the reader has good insight into the application of FMEA.
“Judge a man by his questions, not his answers.”
Voltaire
What is the essence of properly defined FMEA Functions? More than half of FMEA practitioners miss a key element when defining FMEA functions. This first article in the FMEA Definitions and Concepts Series will discuss functions and their application in FMEAs.
“A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.”
Albert Einstein
by Fred Schenkelberg Leave a Comment
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) starts with brainstorming and ends with prioritized actions. A great tool to get your team thinking about system failures. Let’s explore the fundamental steps and beset practices to get value from your analysis.
[Read more…]by Mike Sondalini Leave a Comment
Here is a simple checklist of 31 simple maintenance management tips that you can use to improve your operation. Use it as a guide to start you thinking which maintenance management improvement strategies to use to lower your maintenance and operational costs without spending a lot of money.
[Read more…]In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive environment, team meetings can often feel like a necessary evil. They can be messy, complicated, and sometimes a complete waste of time. However, in this episode, we reveal how to turn these often-chaotic gatherings into cohesive, productive, and efficient sessions.
One of the primary focuses of this episode is the application of Six Sigma, continuous improvement, product development, and project management strategies to team meetings. The podcast discusses how successful facilitators utilize similar techniques to transform the way ideas are generated, examined, and prioritized. By breaking down the process into discovery, examination, and prioritization phases, team meetings can become a fertile ground for creativity and actionable decisions.
In addition to these methodologies, the podcast provides real-life scenarios to illustrate how these techniques can be applied. For instance, it discusses how to break down an FMEA into manageable parts and conduct separate meetings for each part. This ensures that each aspect of the FMEA is thoroughly examined and that the team can focus on specific issues without being overwhelmed by the entire process.
Overall, this podcast episode provides a comprehensive guide on how to transform team meetings. By focusing on discovery, examination, and prioritization, and utilizing tools like affinity diagrams, tree diagrams, and fishbone diagrams, teams can ensure that their meetings are productive, collaborative, and efficient. The episode also emphasizes the importance of staying organized and breaking down complex issues into manageable parts, ensuring that every team member’s input is valued and that actionable decisions are made.