FMEA is short for Failure Mode and Effect Analysis. It retrieves problems in product, process, organisation, equipment as soon as possible. It also gives a ranking of the problems.

When to use

The FMEA can be used in all phases of the development.  From the orientation phase all the way through the mass production. Each phase has its own problems. No FMEA is the same.

FMEA is used:

• At the beginning or end of a development phase

Description

First of all a list is made of potential problems, these are graded on impact of the problem. After this the chance of occurrence is graded and afterwards how good detectable it is. These are multiplied, which gives a ranking. The higher the number the higher the priority to solve the problem.