Failure Modes & Effects Analysis
What Can Happen if Something Goes Wrong
This is a systematic technique for identifying the series of events that can potentially lead to the ultimate consequences after an initial triggering event.
Classic Old Example
- A blacksmith puts horseshoes on a horse;
- He forgets a critical nail in a horseshoe
- A messenger rides the horse to deliver a critical dispatch during an important battle
- The horseshoe comes loose, and the horse goes lame
- The message doesn't get delivered
- The critical battle is lost
- Because the critical battle is lost, the war is lost;
- When the war is lost, the nation is conquered.
Another Example
When a reckless speeding car skids on a slippery road, the driver may—or may not—regain control. If the vehicle goes out of control, an accident may or may not happen, with a wide range of potential consequences, ranging from a simple scare, a fender bender, or possibly a tragic and catastrophic collision involving a chain of vehicles and possibly a tank truck, causing a major release of a toxic or flammable chemical. Major damage, injuries, and loss of life may also occur.
