Abstract

Return to:

Subject Index
Author Index
Keyword Search

FAILURE MODE EFFECTS AND ANALYSIS

James August, CQA
American Biltrite Inc., Tape Products Division
Moorestown, NJ USA

In today's highly competitive, global environment, there's virtually no margin for error in manufacturing. So when introducing a new product, re-engineering a process, or undertaking any project, it makes good business sense to maximize the opportunities for success and minimize the risk of failure. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a systematic process for identifying the most critical potential design and process failure modes before they occur, in order to eliminate or mitigate their effects at early stages of product design and development. It incorporates specific opportunities for preventive action. The power of this technique is further enhanced by a numerical scheme for prioritizing the failure prevention activities.