Learning
What is FMECA?
FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) is an analysis method used in engineering and other fields to identify potential types of failures, assess their consequences, and determine the criticality of these failures for a system or process.
FMECA may be performed at the functional or piece-part level.
Functional level considers the effects of failure at the functional block level, such as a power supply or an amplifier. Piece-part FMECA considers the effects of individual component failures, such as resistors, transistors, microcircuits, or valves.
Piece-part FMECA requires far more effort, but provides the benefit of better estimates of probabilities of occurrence. However, Functional FMEAs can be performed much earlier, may help to better structure the complete risk assessment and provide other type of insight in mitigation options. The analyses are complementary.
Uses of FMECA
Identify Potential Failures
FMECA can help determine and list all the failures that may occur in a product, system, and more. It identifies failure modes, whether in a car engine, computer system, and more.
Understanding Impact
FMECA helps in understanding what happens if those failures actually occur. For example, if a machine breaks down, how much damage could it cause? How would it affect productivity or safety?
Prioritizing Risks
It also helps in deciding which failure modes are the most critical. That way, you can use the resources focused on resolving the most important ones first.
Enhance Reliability
FMECA isn’t all about just preventing problems or potential failures. It is also about making a product or system more reliable. Understanding potential failures allows for improvements to make things work.
Improve Design and Reliability
FMECA also assists you in designing better systems by identifying weak points early. By doing this, you will be able to make improvements. Thus, you can prevent failures before systems are even built.
Advantages and disadvantages
Strengths of FMECA include its comprehensiveness, the systematic establishment of relationships between failure causes and effects, and its ability to point out individual failure modes for corrective action in design.
Weaknesses include the extensive labor required, the large number of trivial cases considered, and inability to deal with multiple-failure scenarios or unplanned cross-system effects such as sneak circuits.
According to an FAA research report for commercial space transportation, Failure Modes, effects, and Criticality Analysis is an excellent hazard analysis and risk assessment tool, but it suffers from other limitations. This alternative does not consider combined failures or typically include software and human interaction considerations. It also usually provides an optimistic estimate of reliability. Therefore, FMECA should be used in conjunction with other analytical tools when developing reliability estimates.
