U.S. Department of Energy

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Flowchart

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is presented below in a flowchart that illustrates the FMEA process. FMEA is subject to revision and is always considered a work in progress. Many times, the process requires revisiting a previous step to improve the product.

FMEA process flowchart: Start failure modes and effects analysis. Define poduct or process. Identify potential failure modes. Rate severity and occurrence of each failure mode. Calculate risk priority number. Identify any risks above acceptable levels. If risks are unacceptable, take corrective action: Redesign, reconfigure, or identify mitigation, then update list of failure modes and return to rate severity and occurrence of each failure mode step. If risks are acceptable, document FMEA results for product or process. Monitor operational data. Recalculate risk priority numbers periodically. Identify any risks above acceptable levels. If risks acceptable, return to monitor operational data step. If risks unacceptable, return to corrective action step.

Failure Modes and Effect Analysis