Why FMEA (Failure, Modes, Effects, Analysis)?

What is FMEA?

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a step-by-step approach for identifying all possible failures in a design, a manufacturing or assembly process, or a product or service.

Failures are any errors or defects, especially ones that affect the customer, and can be potential or actual.

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.

When should you use FMEA?

• When a process, product or service is being designed or redesigned.
• When improvement goals are planned for an existing process, product or service.
• When an existing process, product or service is being applied in a new way.
• When analyzing failures of an existing process, product or service.

Why Use FMEA?

• Failures of any kind are not tolerated in today’s global economy.
• One must strive for the elimination or extreme reduction of any type of failure in products and/or services.
• FMEA is a versatile tool that uses a logical methodology to reduce or eliminate failures or errors.
• FMEA assists in managing risks by identifying the risks involved when failures occur and its effects.

FMEA for Customer Service

• Service FMEAs investigate services before they reach the customer.
• Focus is on failure modes (tasks, errors, mistakes) caused by system or process deficiencies before the first service.For
• For healthcare, use the Service FMEAs