Related Topics:
	FMEA Records

Failures (Functional Failures)

Failures (typically called functional failures in RCM analysis) are FMEA records that state the manner in which the item or operation fails to meet or deliver the intended function and its requirements.

The following topics are discussed here:

• Adding and inserting failures

• Editing failures

• Copying and pasting failures

• Failure properties

Adding and Inserting Failures

To add or insert failures into an FMEA, select the function that the failure will be associated with and choose FMEA > FMEA Records > Failures, then select one of the following options:

  Add Failure adds a new record to the bottom of the list for this function.

  Insert Failure inserts a new failure above the one that is currently selected.

  Import Failures opens the Import Existing Failures window so you can choose to copy one or more existing failures into this FMEA. There is no link to the original record(s) (i.e., changes made in one record will not automatically update the other(s)), and you have the choice to import with or without dependents (e.g., associated effects, causes, etc.).

Editing Failures

To edit an existing failure in the project, either edit it directly in the worksheet view or use the properties window. To open the properties window, select the failure and choose FMEA > FMEA Records > Failures > Edit Failure or double-click the failure in the hierarchy or filtered view.

Copying and Pasting Failures

If you have copied a failure, there are two options when you choose Home > Clipboard > Paste:

  Paste (CTRL+V) pastes the failure(s) and all dependent records (e.g., associated effects, causes, etc.).

   Paste Without Dependents pastes only the failure(s) without any dependent records.

Failure Properties

Note the following:

• The Failure Description is required.

The following fields will be available if they are enabled on the FMEA > Criticality page of the project's interface style. Note that the application will not fully validate these factors until you perform the criticality analysis.

• The Failure Probability value rates the likelihood that the failure will occur and is used in qualitative criticality analysis.

• The Severity Class value rates the severity for the failure. This is for qualitative criticality analysis, and also is required to generate a criticality matrix for the quantitative analysis.

Tip: If you need to define the reliability/maintainability characteristics for this record, use the FMRA tab. These characteristics will be applicable if you wish to perform criticality analysis, use the FMEA occurrence ratings to calculate a preliminary baseline estimate of the system reliability, share system configuration/reliability data between RCM++ and BlockSim or perform RCM cost/availability calculations.