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Home » Articles » on Tools & Techniques » Inside FMEA » Page 8

Inside FMEA

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.

The first article, called “Welcome to Inside FMEA”, will introduce the series, and provide a glimpse of what is to come.

Readers are encouraged to contact me with any questions about FMEA, or feedback on Inside FMEA articles. Questions, feedback, and ideas for future articles can be sent to carl.carlson@effectivefmeas.com. I will personally respond to all questions and feedback.

I’m excited to bring this new series to Accendo, and hope you enjoy reading the articles, as much as I enjoy writing them. As I say to readers of my book, "best wishes for effective FMEAs."


Carl S. Carlson

by Carl S. Carlson 2 Comments

FMEA Q and A – Application of Generic FMEAs

FMEA Q and A – Application of Generic FMEAs

FMEA Q and A

Is it a good idea to do one generic FMEA for wiring harnesses, and use it as a reference for other FMEAs for similar applications? What about interfaces? These questions are discussed and  answered in this FMEA Q and A article.

“We live in the world our questions create.”
David Cooperrider

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Understanding FMEA Causes – Part 2

Understanding FMEA Causes – Part 2

Problems and Solutions

The DC-10 case study continues by asking for causes to the door latch-pin failure. The advanced problem poses a realistic and especially challenging circumstance that FMEA teams can experience.

“Judge a man by his questions, not his answers.” Voltaire

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Understanding FMEA Causes – Part 1

Understanding FMEA Causes – Part 1

Getting to the Root of the Matter

Does a cause description need to be a design or manufacturing deficiency? Why? This is one of the more important questions to consider if you want to achieve quality FMEAs.

“The effort to get at the truth has to precede all other efforts.”
Albert Einstein

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

FMEA Q and A – FMEA Boundary Diagram

FMEA Q and A – FMEA Boundary Diagram

FMEA Q and A

In this Q and A article, a reader asks a challenging question about the linkage between FMEA boundary diagrams and Design FMEAs. There are many linkages between different elements of FMEAs, and this question/answer highlights one of the key linkages.

“In all affairs, it’s a healthy thing to hang a question mark on the thing you have long taken for granted.”
Bertrand Russell

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Understanding FMEA Effects: Part 2

Understanding FMEA Effects: Part 2

Problems and Solutions

Can you identify the effect of the door latch-pin failure in this case study? The loss of the aft cargo door on the American Airlines DC-10 aircraft will be the focus of this Problems and Solutions article. This real-life case study is being used to practice identifying FMEA elements.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Understanding FMEA Effects: Part 1

Understanding FMEA Effects: Part 1

If a Tree Falls in a Forest . . .

Why do you think FMEA procedure requires effects to be taken to the system or end user? Why not describe the consequence only at the local level. If a bolt in a complex system fails, the parts that the bolt was clamping together may come apart. Isn’t that enough?

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.”
Norman Cousins

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Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

FMEA Q and A – Managing System Changes

FMEA Q and A – Managing System Changes

FMEA Q and A

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

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 7 Comments

Understanding FMEA Failure Modes: Part 2

Understanding FMEA Failure Modes: Part 2

Problems and Solutions

Whether you are new to FMEA or more experienced, these problems will challenge your skills. The intermediate/advanced problem uses an actual airline disaster to challenge readers with an FMEA problem, and practice identifying the elements of an FMEA.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 2 Comments

Understanding FMEA Failure Modes – Part 1

Understanding FMEA Failure Modes – Part 1

Why Describing the Mode of Failure is Essential

Do you know why we ask for the “mode” of failure when performing FMEAs? This article will provide theory and practical examples of defining failure modes, and highlight an application tip that can improve your FMEA effectiveness.

“I haven’t failed, I’ve just found ten thousand ways that don’t work”
Thomas Edison

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 7 Comments

FMEA Q and A – System-Level Functions

FMEA Q and A – System-Level Functions

FMEA Q and A

In this question, a reader asks how to define system-level functions, and how they are different from subsystem and component functions.

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.”
Francis Bacon

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by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

Understanding Functions – Part 2

Understanding Functions – Part 2

Problems and Solutions

Do you consider yourself an FMEA beginner or are you more experienced? Challenge yourself with these problems about FMEA functions, and see how you do. One of the best ways to learn is by pondering application problems and seeing of you can solve them.

If you haven’t yet read last week’s article Understanding FMEA Functions – Part 1, it would be a good idea to read it now, as the questions are based on that article.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 1 Comment

Understanding FMEA Functions – Part 1

Understanding FMEA Functions – Part 1

The Essence of the Item

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

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 2 Comments

FMEA Q & A – Medical Devices

FMEA Q & A – Medical Devices

3 Medical Device Questions

FMEA Q & A

In these series of questions, a reader asks about whether system FMEAs in the medical device industry should include human interactions, and the difference between system and application FMEAs.

“The art of proposing a question must be held of higher value than solving it.”  Georg Cantor

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson Leave a Comment

FMEA Success Factors – Part 2

FMEA Success Factors – Part 2

Six Essential Factors for FMEA Success

Problems and Solutions

Do you consider yourself an FMEA beginner or are you more experienced? Challenge yourself with these problems, and see how you do. One of the best ways to learn is by pondering actual application problems and seeing if you can solve them.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

by Carl S. Carlson 1 Comment

FMEA Success Factors – Part 1

FMEA Success Factors – Part 1

Six Essential Factors for FMEA Success

Have you ever wondered what are the key ingredients for successful FMEA application in a company? Why are some FMEAs successsful, and others are not? What are the most important factors for uniformly achieving great results? Based on supervising or performing over two thousand FMEAs, six FMEA success factors have been identified, and they are covered in this article.

Nothing succeeds like success.
Alexandre Dumas

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Inside FMEA, on Tools & Techniques

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Articles by Carl Carlson
in the Inside FMEA series

Logo Info

Information about FMEA Icon

Inside FMEA can be visually represented by a large tree, with roots, a solid trunk, branches, and leaves.

- The roots of the tree represent the philosophy and guiding principles for effective FMEAs.
- The solid trunk of the tree represents the fundamentals for all FMEAs.
- The branches represent the various FMEA applications.
- The leaves represent the valuable outcomes of FMEAs.
- This is intended to convey that each of the various FMEA applications have the same fundamentals and philosophical roots.

 

For example, the roots of the tree can represent following philosophy and guiding principles for effective FMEAs, such as:

1. Correct procedure         2. Lessons learned
3. Trained team                 4. Focus on prevention
5. Integrated with DFR    6. Skilled facilitation
7. Management support

The tree trunk represents the fundamentals of FMEA. All types of FMEA share common fundamentals, and these are essential to successful FMEA applications.

The tree branches can include the different types of FMEAs, including:

1. System FMEA         2. Design FMEA
3. Process FMEA        4. DRBFM
5. Hazard Analysis     6. RCM or Maintenance FMEA
7. Software FMEA      8. Other types of FMEA

The leaves of the tree branches represent individual FMEA projects, with a wide variety of FMEA scopes and results.

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