	Related Topics:
	FMEA Records

Effects

To add an effect to the FMEA, select the failure with which it is associated and choose FMEA > FMEA Records > Effects.

Note: If the FMEA structure for the hierarchy is Causes Before Effects, you would select the cause with which the effect is associated and then choose FMEA > FMEA Records > Effects.

To insert a new effect above the selected effect, choose FMEA > FMEA Records > Effects > Insert Effect.

Note: If the FMEA structure for the hierarchy is Causes Before Effects, you are limited to one effect only for each cause and you cannot add or insert additional effects.

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

Effect Properties Window

When adding an effect, in addition to the options common to all FMEA record properties windows, you will need to define the effect properties.

Note: The fields that are enabled in the interface and the options available in configurable drop-down lists will depend on the interface style settings that have been defined for the current project. You can choose Project > Management > Configurable Settings > Interface Style to open the Edit Interface Style (This Project) window and change the settings for the current project.

The following fields may be available:

End Effect Description: The effect of the failure on the top level item or system.
Short Description: A shortened (50 character maximum) version of the record description that appears in diagrams where the full description would be too long to display. If you do not enter text in this field, the software automatically populates the field when you save the record (based on the first 50 characters of the record description). Note that the description fields are not automatically updated if you later change one of them so you must be sure to make the same changes to both fields if necessary.
Next Level Effect Description: The effect of the failure on the next higher level assembly.
Local Effect Description: The effect of the failure on the item.
Critical Failure Criterion: The criterion to determine a critical failure.
Time Range to Critical Failure: The time that it takes for a critical failure to occur.
Initial Severity and Revised Severity: Numerical ratings that indicate how serious the effects will be if the failure occurs. The options in these drop-down lists are based on the severity scale that has been assigned in the Project Properties window. A severity rating must be defined in order for the RPN to be calculated automatically. The revised severity rating is based on the assumption that all recommended actions for the causes of failure have been performed.

Grouped Effects and Causes

If you have selected the Grouped Effects and Causes FMEA structure, you will be able to enter all of the available effects on separate rows in the Grouped Effect(s) Properties section, with each effect having its own severity rating. The effects will be displayed together in the same cell in the worksheet view and in reports. Each effect can be selected separately using the Select Existing window.

IMPORTANT: For purposes of RPN calculation, only the highest rating is used. The other ratings are visible in parenthesis at the end of the effect description, but are not used in calculations.