In this video, I dive into the concept of Failure Effects and why they’re important to the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) process. A Failure Effect tells the story of what would happen if we did nothing to predict or prevent each Failure Mode, allowing us to properly assess the consequences and formulate the right maintenance strategies. I break down the essential components of writing a Failure Effect, including:
- A description of the failure process from the occurrence of the failure mode to the functional failure
- Physical evidence that the failure has occurred
- How it adversely affects safety and/or the environment
- How it affects operational capability
- Specific operating restrictions as a result of the failure
- Secondary damage
- What must be done and how long it takes to repair the failure.
Understanding this zero-based approach is key, even though it can feel counter-intuitive to RCM Working Group members who are used to managing equipment proactively. That’s why an experienced RCM Facilitator is essential to guide the process. I also share an example of a Failure Effect in the video—feel free to pause and read through it.
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