Quality

FMEAFailure Mode and Effects Analysis

A structured method to identify potential failure modes, rate their risk, and prioritize preventive actions.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) systematically examines a product or process for ways it could fail, the effects of each failure, and its causes. Each failure mode is scored on Severity, Occurrence, and Detection; the product is the Risk Priority Number (RPN) used to prioritize action.

FMEA is a proactive, preventive tool — it drives poka-yoke and design changes before failures reach the customer. Design FMEA (DFMEA) and Process FMEA (PFMEA) are the two common forms.

Go Deeper
FMEA guide→FMEA Worksheet→
Related Terms
Poka-Yoke
Any device or design that prevents an error from being made or from becoming a defect.
Root Cause Corrective Action
The disciplined process of finding a problem's fundamental cause and implementing a permanent fix.
Cost of Quality
The total cost of achieving quality (prevention + appraisal) plus the cost of failing to (internal + external failure).
8D
A structured eight-step problem-solving and corrective-action method, widely used in automotive supplier quality.
Control Chart
A time-series chart with statistical control limits used to distinguish normal variation from special-cause variation.

Put FMEA into practice

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