Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
- Two types of FMEA, i.e. functional & detailed (hardware; piece part, etc). Can be performed at any level. Important to bound the analysis with the customer before beginning the analysis to ensure the finished analysis report meets their needs and expectations.
- Provides the database from which the failure mode and effects summary (FMES) is derived and FTA basic events are later quantified. Usually three (3) levels of failure effects for each failure mode, i.e. Local, Intermediate (card, subassy, etc) and System.
- Considers effects of single failures only. For best results safety critical effects list should be given by the safety engineer to the FMEA analyst at the beginning of the FMEA.
- Most often includes failure detection statement for each failure mode (i.e. detected by BIT /crew or undetected).
- Typically includes failure mode failure rate for each FMEA record. For FMECA, criticality analysis methods per MIL-STD-1629A method 102. Used to rank failure modes by severity.
- Most often the FMEA is recorded in Excel though some clients have preferred Word tables instead.
- Familiarity with Itemsoft and Relex FMEA tools but tons of experience creating databases, queries, pivot tables (for FMES) and generating reports using Excel and Access.
- Parnassus has performed approximately 100 FMEAs on electronic, hydraulic, electro-mechanical and mechanical equipment and systems flown on commercial, military and NASA aircraft.
