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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/eng-fmea-prioritize-failures

What does a failure mode and effects analysis do before failures occur?

FMEA identifies and prioritizes possible failures.

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  1. Identifies and prioritizes failure modes ✔
  2. Proves every failure impossible
  3. Replaces all physical testing

Why: FMEA lists how functions might fail, the effects, possible causes, and existing controls. Teams then prioritize preventive work using factors such as severity, occurrence, and detection.

Huh, didn't know that: A failure mode is how a function fails, while an effect is the consequence experienced by the system or user.

The dad joke
FMEA plans for failure so failure has fewer plans.
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References

Answer: Identifies and prioritizes failure modes. FMEA lists how functions might fail, the effects, possible causes, and existing controls. Teams then prioritize preventive work using factors such as severity, occurrence, and detection.

  1. American Society for Quality, What is FMEA? asq.org/quality-resources/fmea
    FMEA is a systematic, step-by-step approach to identify and prioritize possible failures in a design
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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