Artifact: Failure Modes and Effect Analysis
This work product is to assess the modes and effects of failures on the system and its environment.
Domains: Development
Purpose
The purpose of this work product is to capture qualitative and quantitative data about failures and their consequences for reliability and safety engineering.
Relationships
Description
Main Description

An FMEA is most often used in a bottom-up approach - that is detailed failures are examined to determine their ultimate consequences. In contrast, Fault Tree Analysis is more commonly used in a top-down approach, beginning with hazards and then determining what faults elicit them.

FMEA and FTA are used in both reliability engineering and safety-critical system engineering.

Tailoring
Impact of not havingThis product is one of the primary means for capturing and analyzing system reliability. Without the product, or its equivalent, this analysis will be difficult to perform.
Reasons for not needingThis work product is not needed to systems that do not have significant reliability requirements or needs.