FMEA Software Open Source
FMEA methodology is now extensively used in a variety of industries including semiconductor processing, food service, plastics, software, and healthcare. Toyota has taken this one step further with its Design Review Based on Failure Mode (DRBFM) approach.
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a structured approach to discovering potential failures that may exist within the design of a product or process. Failure modes are the ways in which a process can fail. Effects are the ways that these failures can lead to waste, defects or harmful outcomes for the customer.
FMEA is used during design to prevent failures. Later it's used for control, before and during ongoing operation of the process. Ideally, FMEA begins during the earliest conceptual stages of design and continues throughout the life of the product or service.
When should you use FMEA?
Ideally, you should begin using FMEA during the earliest conceptual design stages of a process or product, and then through the design or redesign process. Alternatively, you can try using this approach in these cases.
- Before you develop control plans for a new or modified process, and for control before and during ongoing processes.
- When you plan to apply an existing process or product in a new way.
- When you want to improve the quality of an existing process or product.
- For optimal results, you should always examine and improve quality and reliability throughout the life of the process or product.
FMEA is a qualitative and systematic tool, usually created within a spreadsheet, to help practitioners anticipate what might go wrong with a product or process.
The types of FMEA are:
- System – focuses on global system functions.
- Design – focuses on components and subsystems.
- Process – focuses on manufacturing and assembly processes.
- Service – focuses on service functions.
- Software – focuses on software functions.
Benefits of FMEA
Captures the collective knowledge of a team. Improves the quality, reliability, and safety of the process. Logical, structured process for identifying process areas of concern. Reduces process development time, cost.