Reviewers Needed for New FMEA eBook
by Carl S. Carlson
My new eBook is in draft form and ready for review. I am very excited to introduce this project, as it is the culmination of a career in reliability engineering and FMEA. The title is Achieving Effective FMEAs: Simple Principles for Realizing the Full Potential of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. It summarizes and simplifies articles I’ve written over the years as part of the Inside FMEA Series, with added emphasis on principles, examples, exercises and case studies. Each chapter has a section called “Potential AI Application” which shares where AI is useful, and where human involvement is essential.
We are looking for people who are willing to review a couple of chapters of this new eBook
Write me at Carl.Carlson@EffectiveFMEAs.com. Let me know if you are willing to review a couple of chapters. You can be new to FMEA, very experienced, or anywhere in between. I want to do more than provide the right information. My goal is to connect with readers in their real-world applications, and in a way that is clear and meaningful. The review is not intended to be formal, just impressions, comments or suggestions. If you are able to help, it would be greatly appreciated.
I’m also looking to talk with professors or assistant professors, who are currently involved in teaching engineering courses, that might like to add a short module on FMEA, to enhance their curricula. If you know of anyone who might be willing to talk with me, please let me know.
Why a new book on FMEA?
As I’ve said throughout my career, FMEA has the potential to be a very powerful tool to attain safe and reliable products. When done well, it can drive significant improvements to product designs and manufacturing processes. However, there’s a caveat. It has to be done correctly. And there is no better way to ensure correct application than learning and applying core principles. I am grateful for the success of my first book Effective FMEAs, and this new eBook will introduce a simplified and interactive version, so people can think with the subject.
As you can see by the draft Table of Contents (below), this eBook focuses on the fundamentals of FMEA, which is critical to success. I have four other shorter eBooks that are in draft stage: Fundamentals of FMEA Facilitation; Implementing an Effective and Sustainable FMEA Process in Your Company; Good FMEAs, Bad FMEAs, What’s the Difference?; and Key Principles for Effective Teaching.
What is expected from reviewers?
Those who are willing to review a couple of chapters will be asked to read the assigned chapters, perform end-of-chapter exercises, and provide impressions, comments and/or suggestions. I want openly candid feedback, both on where I’m hitting the mark, and where the eBook can be improved. Even if my message is correct, how it comes across is crucial to learning; and I will listen carefully to every suggestion. For info, each chapter is about 7 or 8 pages, including exercises.
How can you help?
Write me at Carl.Carlson@EffectiveFMEAs.com. Let me know your level of experience with FMEA, and if you are willing to review a couple of chapters. As mentioned, I’m looking for both experienced FMEA users and those new to FMEA.
And, if you know any professors or assistant professors who are currently involved in teaching engineering courses that might like to add short modules on FMEA, to enhance their curricula, please let me know that as well.
Thank you, and best wishes for Effective FMEAs!
Carl S. Carlson
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DRAFT
Introduction
SECTION ONE OVERVIEW: Bringing FMEAs to Life
Chapter 1 What is FMEA? A Brief Overview
Chapter 2 The Philosophy and Guiding Principles for Effective FMEAs
Chapter 3 Six Essential Factors for FMEA Success
Chapter 4 The Process of Effective FMEAs
SECTION TWO PREPARATION: How to Plan and Prepare for Effective FMEAs
Welcome to “Plan and Prepare for Effective FMEAs”
Chapter 5 Develop an FMEA Plan That Works
Chapter 6 Determine the Scope of Your FMEA
Chapter 7 Make the Scope Clearly Visible
Chapter 8 Establish Ground Rules and Assumptions
Chapter 9 Gather Information
Chapter 10 Assemble the Correct FMEA Team
Chapter 11 Three Innovative Preparation Steps (Optional)
- Identifying and Prioritizing FMEA Functions
- FMEA Pre-population
- Begin with Concerns
SECTION THREE APPLICATION: Essential Steps in Every FMEA
Welcome to “Essential Steps in Every FMEA”
Chapter 12 Item – What is the Focus of Your Project?
Chapter 13 Functions – What does the item do?
Chapter 14 Failure Modes – What can go wrong?
Chapter 15 Effects – What are the consequences?
Chapter 16 Causes – The underlying “why”
Chapter 17 Special Characteristics – Aim for the target
Chapter 18. Prevention and Detection Controls – What are your current controls?
Chapter 19. Compensating Provisions – What are you currently doing to mitigate risk?
Chapter 20 Severity Risk – How serious is the consequence?
Chapter 21 Occurrence Risk – How likely is the problem?
Chapter 22 Detection Risk – Can you detect the problem in time?
Chapter 23 Risk Prioritization – How critical is the risk?
Chapter 24 Recommended Actions – What will you do to reduce risk?
APPENDIX A
Case Study 1: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: Practice using FMEA to address component deficiencies
APPENDIX B
Case Study 2: DC-10 Cargo Door Blow-out:
Practice using FMEA to address system deficiencies
Appendix C
The Future of FMEA
APPENDIX D
Solutions Manual:
Answers to Multiple Choice Problems, Application Problems, and Case Studies
INDEX
