What is FMEA

Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is the tool used to identify risk priorities for various inputs and errors within a process. It sets the stage for root cause analysis. The tool is useful when teams need more detailed information about inputs and possible associated failure points

FMEA can be created using a spreadsheet with the following columns:

1. Process step or Function
2. Potential failure
3. Potential failure effect – impacting customer
4. Severity (SEV) – of Potential failure (1-10)
5. Potential cause of failure
6. Occurrence (OCC) – likelihood of failure occurring (1-10)
7. Current monitor/ control
8. Detectability (DET) – ability to detect failure (1-10)
9. Risk Priority Number (RPN) – SEV x OCC x DET
10. Recommended changes/ actions
11. Who and When?
12. Action completed
13. SEV
14. DET
15. RPN

where,

• Column 1 – 9 are completed during the Measure phase
• Column 10 – 15 are mostly completed during Improve phase