FMEA

How it is used

Used for designs (DFMEA) and processes (PFMEA), especially in automotive. Each failure mode is rated for severity, occurrence and detection. Traditionally these were multiplied into an RPN; the 2019 AIAG-VDA handbook uses Action Priority instead. Teams create, review and update the FMEA.

Example sentences

1. The PFMEA for the new line lists 120 failure modes, and 14 of them need action.

2. After the field failure, we had to update the FMEA and add a new detection control.

Common collocations

• process FMEA
• design FMEA
• update the FMEA
• FMEA team
• risk priority number

Related terms

• risk assessmentA careful review of a task or area to find the hazards, judge how likely and how serious harm would be, and decide what controls are needed.
• corrective actionAn action taken to remove the cause of a problem or nonconformance so that it does not happen again, not just to fix the affected parts.
• poka-yokeA simple device or design feature that prevents a mistake or makes it obvious at once, such as a part that can only fit one way. Japanese for 'mistake-proofing'.
• control chartA graph that shows measurements of a process over time, with a center line and upper and lower control limits, so you can see whether the process is stable.

More terms: Quality Control and Assurance

• defect
• scrap
• rework
• quality control
• inspection
• statistical process control
• nonconformance
• first pass yield
• audit