Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is used to identify potential failure modes, determine their effect on the function of the product and, identify actions to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of failure.

The FMEA format includes a scoring system which applies a value between 1 and 10 to each of the items assessed within the document. These values can then be used in conjunction to determine whether a particular failure mode will be potentially significant or critical, thus providing a level of prioitisation for the design team in assessing design and test criteria.

While testing will still be required to confirm the reliability of the design, the probability of failure during testing (and in the field) may be reduced, thus reducing time delays and associated costs in re-design and re-test.

The benefits of using the FMEA tool in the design process include, improving product/process reliability and quality, early identification and elimination of potential product/process failure modes, early identification of product/process deficiencies, increased emphasis on problem prevention, improved testing and development, assessment of potential design improvements while minimising cost and timing to the overall process.

Using a user friendly in-house format, Keltech Design can facilitate and support you in assessing and documenting the

• Function(s) of a part, process or design
• The requirements or specifications to which the part must comply
• The potential failure modes of the design
• Assessment of the effect of failure in relation to the part, system, customer and so on
• Potential causes of failure and the potential level of occurrence of causes of failure
• Design actions can be taken to eliminate the failure mode or reduce the possibility of the failure mode taking place
• Testing that is currently available or will be required to verify these design actions
• The effectiveness of this testing in detecting the cause of failure and replicating the failure mode

This format may then be used by you or your company to further develop this design or other, similar designs.

If you already have an FMEA prepared, but would prefer to switch to a more user user friendly document, Keltech Design would be happy to transfer the information from your current document to our own format.