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Advanced FMEA

Advanced FMEA provides AIAG/VDA-compliant DFMEA, PFMEA, and FMEA-MSR with automated Action Priority calculation and structured analysis.

What's Different?​

FeatureSimple FMEAAdvanced FMEA
StructureFlat listHierarchical (System → Subsystem → Component)
PriorityManual RPNAuto-calculated Action Priority (AIAG/VDA)
TypesGenericDFMEA, PFMEA, FMEA-MSR (specialized templates)
ActionsBasic trackingFull lifecycle with verification
AnalysisNoneRisk Heatmap, RPN Trending over time
TraceabilitySingle requirementStructure Tree with functions

When to Use Advanced FMEA?​

Use Advanced FMEA if you need:

  • ✅ AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook compliance (automotive, aerospace, medical)
  • ✅ Action Priority instead of RPN (modern standard)
  • ✅ System Structure Trees for complex products
  • ✅ Failure Chain analysis (Effect → Mode → Cause)
  • ✅ FMEA-MSR for monitoring and system response
  • ✅ RPN trending and risk heatmaps
  • ✅ Audit trail for regulatory compliance

Use Simple FMEA if you need:

  • ✅ Quick risk tracking
  • ✅ Minimal setup
  • ✅ Basic RPN calculation

Quick Start​

  1. Navigate to FMEA workspace in your project
  2. Toggle "Advanced Mode" at the top
  3. Click "New Analysis" button
  4. Select type: DFMEA, PFMEA, or FMEA-MSR
  5. Fill in details and start adding failure modes

FMEA Types Explained​

DFMEA (Design FMEA)​

Focus: Product design weaknesses before production

When to use: During product design phase, design changes, component selection

Unique fields:

  • Design Intent
  • Interface Description

Example: "Battery Management System DFMEA to prevent overcharging"

PFMEA (Process FMEA)​

Focus: Manufacturing process issues

When to use: Production planning, process improvement, assembly line setup

Unique fields:

  • Process Step
  • Process Function
  • Equipment Used

Example: "Welding Process PFMEA to ensure consistent weld quality"

FMEA-MSR (Monitoring & System Response)​

Focus: How system monitors failures and responds

When to use: Safety-critical systems, autonomous systems, real-time monitoring

Unique fields:

  • Monitoring Methods
  • System Response Actions
  • Frequency (F) rating instead of Occurrence (O)
  • Monitoring (M) rating instead of Detection (D)

Example: "Autonomous Vehicle Sensor FMEA-MSR for fail-safe operation"

Action Priority (AP)​

Advanced FMEA uses Action Priority (High/Medium/Low) instead of RPN as the primary indicator.

Why Action Priority?​

AIAG & VDA FMEA Handbook (modern standard) prioritizes actions more effectively than RPN alone:

  • High Priority = Immediate action required (appears red)
  • Medium Priority = Action needed but not urgent (appears orange)
  • Low Priority = Monitor, no immediate action (appears green)

Calculation Rules​

AP is automatically calculated based on Severity (S), Occurrence (O), Detection (D):

High Priority if:

  • Severity ≥ 9 (catastrophic) — regardless of O/D
  • Severity ≥ 7 AND (Occurrence ≥ 4 OR Detection ≥ 4)

Medium Priority if:

  • Severity ≥ 4 (not High)
  • Severity = 3 AND (Occurrence ≥ 6 OR Detection ≥ 6)

Low Priority:

  • All other combinations
tip

RPN is still calculated and displayed, but Action Priority determines which failure modes need attention first.

Next Steps​