Also called: potential failure modes and effects analysis; fault modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA). Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) are a step-by-step approach to identify all possible failures in a design, manufacturing process or assembly, or a product or service. "Failure modes" means the ways or ways in which something can fail. Faults are errors or defects, especially those that affect the customer, and can be potential or real.
"Effects analysis" refers to the study of the consequences of such failures. Faults are prioritized according to the severity of their consequences, the frequency with which they occur and the ease with which they can be detected. The purpose of the FMEA is to take actions to eliminate or reduce failures, starting with those of higher priority.
Failure modes and effects analysis also document current knowledge and actions on fault risks for use in continuous improvement. FMEA is used during design to avoid failures. Later it is used for control, before and during the continuous operation of the process. Ideally, FMEA should begin during the earliest conceptual design stages and continue throughout the life of the product or service.
Started in the 1940s by the US Army. FMEA was further developed by the aerospace and automotive industries. Several industries maintain formal FMEA standards. The following is a general description and a reference. Before undertaking an FMEA process, learn more about specific standards and methods in your organization and industry through other referrals and training.