FMEA - Failure modes and Effects Analysis

Design FMEA is a key element of Concurrent engineering. In TeamSET it is integrated with a full set of other tools to produce the most powerful suite of concurrent engineering software

Failure modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a simple, structured analysis technique which gives design teams the information they need to improve product quality and reducing cost by:

• increasing product reliability
• ensuring the design is robust
• reducing the number of engineering changes
• correcting design errors before production starts

Each component or subsystem is considered in turn, and a numerical score calculated to estimate the risk of failure associated with that part.

FMEA is standard practice in the automotive industry. Its use is increasing rapidly in a wide range of other industries to produce more reliable products with less wasted cost.

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis gives optimum results when used with the other TeamSET tools: QFD, DFA, MA, DTC, Concept Convergence. It is most effective when used by multi-disciplined New Product Introduction ( NPI ) teams.

Design for Assembly (DFA) is a simple, structured analysis technique which gives design teams the information they need to reduce product costs by simplifying product structure and optimising manufacturing processes

Typical benefits

• reducing the number of parts
• optimising manufacturing processes
• simplifying parts handling
• improving product assembly

Manufacturing Analysis (MA) supports DFA by providing very rapid component cost estimation and allowing comparison of costs for different manufacturing processes.

QFD is a detailed planning technique used to translate the 'voice of the customer' into company specifications at each major stage of the Product Introduction Process.

Some of the benefits of QFD are:-

• Products meet customer expectations better.
• Reduced lead times through fewer design changes and focus on key features.
• Design traceability.
• Improved communication within organisation and with customer.

Design to Target Cost (DTC) is the managed process of monitoring and controlling manufacturing cost to a fixed cost target set at the product specification stage. The responsibility for attaining the target cost resides with the project team.

Concept Convergence is a simple, structured technique for comparing and selecting solutions for a set of requirements. The technique can be used for:-

• Evaluating alternative concept designs.
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses in relation to a set of requirements.
• Identifying ideas which have the highest potential.

Follow this link for more information on TeamSET's FMEA software.