A Model-Based Approach to the Automation of Failure Mode Effects Analysis for Design

Abstract
This paper describes the application of model-based technology in the area of failure mode effects analysis (FMEA). FMEA involves the repetitive application of engineering expertise, and so would seem to be a promising target for automation through knowledge-based systems (KBS) technology. However, in order to decide what would be the effect of a failure in a sub-system, it is necessary to reason about the structure of the sub-system being investigated and to be able to represent and reason about different facets of the way in which the sub-system works. The difficulty of automating this analysis of failure effects for new designs has meant that, in general, automation of the FMEA task has concentrated on only the clerical aspects of FMEA—helping the human expert to keep track of which possible failures have been analysed. The work described in this paper automates the analysis phase of the FMEA process. This should enable the development of computerized aids for the FMEA engineer which will eliminate much of the tediousness of the task.

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