Failure Mode Effects Analysis
FMEA is a method which is used to identify and fully understand what could go wrong with a System, process or design (A Potential Failure Mode). It identifies the 'Cause of a Failure' the effect of that failure 'Failure Effect', the risks associated with the potential failure 'Risk Management' and what actions need to be taken to stop that failure 'Barriers & Controls'
A Hazard is defined as something that can cause harm, loss or danger and it is a potential source of harm. A Hazard can therefore be considered a 'Potential Failure Mode', but a Hazard analysis usually starts at the top of a system and it can be difficult to identify some of the more low-level failures.
An FMEA is a bottom-up analysis which can help identify component failures, many of which could form part of a Hazard. Capturing failure modes and Controls and then, incorporating them into 'Hazards' is an important step in the safety case management process.
The DSM builds FMEA Worksheets using Event, Hazard and Control entities to capture the relevant information and the then displays that information in a Matrix table. Data can be imported into the DSM very easily through Microsoft Excel and Worksheets can be just as easily exported into Excel or a Microsoft Word document such as a FMEA Report.
DSM FMEA WORKSHEET
Once an FMEA Worksheet has been built the DSM allows you to edit it directly in the Matrix table. You can clone a worksheet to create a new one and new Potential Failure Modes can be quickly imported into the DSM and aligned with the new cloned FMEA worksheet. The DSM works on the 'Build Once - Use many times' principle and DSM files are easy to transfer by e-mail.
Details on how to build an FMEA worksheet are contained in the User Manual. Why not try our free trial software and see what you think.