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Total Quality Management
Notes “Failure modes” means the ways, or modes, in which something might fail. Failures are any
errors or defects, especially ones that affect the customer, and can be potential or actual.
“Effects analysis” refers to studying the consequences of those failures.
Failures are prioritized according to how serious their consequences are, how frequently they
occur and how easily they can be detected. The purpose of the FMEA is to take actions to
eliminate or reduce failures, starting with the highest-priority ones.
Failure modes and effects analysis also documents current knowledge and actions about the
risks of failures, for use in continuous improvement. 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.
Did u know? FMEA was developed in US Military. Military procedure MIL- P-1629, titled
Procedures for Performing a Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis, is dated
November 9, 1949. It was used as a reliability evaluation technique to determine the effect
of equipment and system failures.
FMEA is a structured approach for:
1. Identifying ways in which a process can fail to meet critical customer requirements.
2. Estimating the risk of causes with regard to these failures.
3. Evaluating control plan for preventing these failures.
4. Prioritizing the actions for improving the process.
When to use FMEA:
For improving the reliability and safety of the products.
For improving customer satisfaction.
Tracking actions to reduce non-conformities
New product development
12.1.1 Relationship of Cause, Failure Mode & Effect
Figure 12.1: Relationship of Cause, Failure and Effect
Cause Failure Mode Effect
Self Assessment
Fill in the blanks:
1. FMEA stands for …………………….
2. …………………… refers to studying the consequences of the failures.
3. FMEA begins during the earliest conceptual stages of …………………… and continues
throughout the life of the product or service.
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