There are two principal approaches to achieving a FMECA analysis. The first consists of identifying all the items that are part of the system and analyzing each of their potential failure modes, their effect and their
criticality level.
The other is the functional approach, which recognizes that each item is made to perform a certain number of functions, which can be identified as the output. These outputs are identified and their failure modes are analyzed.
For complex systems a possible third way can be considered, which is a combination of the two previous approaches.
A FMECA analysis can be done for all three of these approaches, beginning with the highest hierarchical level and then descending level by level towards the component level. Or, starting with the component level and working up level by level until the FMECA analysis has been completed for the entire system.
WHY ?
?
The objective of a FMECA is to allow for the identification of all the available possibilities for both catastrophic and critical failures with all their criteria, so that they can be minimized, or eliminated, as early as possible by the relevant preventative maintenance interventions.
At no matter what level of sophistication, a Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) must contribute in a significant way to the decision making process regarding a maintenance program. It is a tool of great value for those who are responsible for taking any decisions at all on the feasibility and adequacy of a comprehensive maintenance policy for a manufacturing facility.
WHEN ?
Above all, a FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) is an essential reliability task
, and one that also provides information that can be put to other uses.
A FMECA is suggested in the following cases :
• To identify maintenance activities
• To conduct a maintainability analysis
• To do a safety analysis
• To conduct a viability analysis
• To do failure detection
• To isolate the sub-systems of a design
HOW ?
A FMECA analysis is done in eight steps on equipment identified as critical :
Identify all the potential failure modes potentiels et définir
and delineate their effect on the immediate function and/or on the asset, on the system and on the goal that needs to be achieved.
Identify all the possible detection methods and the compensatory measures for each of the failure modes.
6-
Identify all the design modifications, or necessary corrective actions that need to be taken to minimize the risk of failure.
7-
Identify the effects of all the corrective actions, and/or other attributes of the system such as logistical support requirements.
8-
Document all the analyses and sum up the problems that cannot be corrected by a design modification, and identify the specific controls which need to be done to meet the goal of reducing the risk of failure(s).
With the help of effective information integration, which is being continuously improved, through a shared information data base and after each FMECA analysis, so as to supply continually updated information on
failure modes, their effect and criticality
as soon as the information has been modified after an incident, or maintenance event (failure or intervention).
«Facilitates decision making and prioritization of improvement efforts»
Creation of a FMECA