Working with the FMEA block

The FMEA analysis block (in the Tables group) is a structured Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. It follows the AIAG-VDA (2019) method, in which a High / Medium / Low Action Priority replaces the older Risk Priority Number (RPN).

Design or Process FMEA

Set the block to Design (DFMEA) or Process (PFMEA), which sets the first column's label (item & function, or process step & function).

Filling in a row

Each row describes one failure mode:

• Item / function, failure mode and effects.
• Severity (S) of the effect, a rating from 1 to 10.
• Cause and the current prevention control, then Occurrence (O), 1 to 10.
• The current detection control, then Detection (D), 1 to 10.

Action Priority is calculated for you

You don't type the priority. From the S, O and D ratings the block computes an Action Priority of High, Medium or Low, using the AIAG-VDA action-priority table, so a high-severity failure is never masked by a low arithmetic product. High means address it first.

The optimization step

After you plan corrective action, the optimization columns record the recommended / taken action, the responsibility, a target date, the status and the action taken. Enter the re-rated S, O and D and the block computes an optimized Action Priority, so the document shows risk before and after mitigation.