Failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA)
Contents |
[edit] What is FMEA and when is it used?
FMEA is a step by step approach for collecting knowledge about possible points of failure in a design, manufacturing or construction process, product or service:
- When a process, product or service is being designed or redesigned
- When an existing process, product or service is being applied in a new way
- Before developing control plans for a new or modified process
- When improvement goals are planned for an existing process, product or service
- When analysing failures of an existing process, product or service
- Periodically throughout the life of the process, product or service.
[American Society for Quality (ASQ) 2017]
[edit] History of FMEA
FMEA was first used by the US navy in 1949 to understand and control the risks in their procedures, including operation of weapon systems. It was also used in the 1960’s for the Apollo missions and then from the 1970’s by the automotive industry.
[edit] Use of FMEA in the project Lifecycle
It can be used by project teams to assess and control how a process or item can fail for example:
- Design – to check the feasibility of design prior to build
- Material – to ensure correct selection of material prior to build
- Construction – to understand risks in assembly prior to build
- Commissioning – to understand potential operational failures prior to use
- Changes to Plan – the potential risks resulting from having to change a process or an item
[edit] Benefits
- Captures collective knowledge of team
- Improves quality, reliability and safety of the process
- Logical structured process identifying areas of concern
- Reduces development time and cost
- Quality led activity
[edit] Steps to undertake the FMEA
[edit] Setup
|
Preparation for Workshop |
Assembling the Team
|
Creating FMEA Template
|
[edit] Consider potential failures (for each critical item / process list the potential points of failure)
Failure Mode |
Effect of failure
| ||||||
Cause of failure
|
Current controls |
[edit] Assessment of failure
|
Occurrence (OCC)
|
Severity (SEV) |
|
Detection (DET) |
Risk Priority Number (RPN)
|
[edit] Actions to be taken
|
Revised Assessment
|
Post FMEA
|
[edit] Related Tools
- DFMEA – procedure used in engineering to explore the possibility of a design failing in a real world situation.
- PFMEA – procedure which focuses on the failures of a process
- FMECA – extension to FMEA which introduces an additional metric called criticality.
This article was originally written by Alan Grogan on behalf of the CQI Construction Special Interest Group, reviewed by members of the Competency Working Group and approved for publication by the Steering Committee on 1 May 2019.
--ConSIG CWG 20:27, 26 May 2019 (BST)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Annex SL.
- Change control: a quality perspective.
- Cracking and building movement.
- Defects.
- Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis.
- Failure.
- How to write an inspection and test plan.
- Inspection and test plan.
- Latent defects.
- Lifts and escalators: a quality perspective.
- Mobilisation to site: a quality perspective.
- Patent defects.
- Quality tools: fishbone diagram.
- Smarter systems predicting failure.
- Structural steelwork: a quality perspective.
- Why should quality be important to the construction industry?
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.