Abstract

Organizations should use different types of design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA) to better identify risk in a new or changed product or service design. The four types of DFMEA are system DFMEA, component DFMEA, assembly DFMEA and application DFMEA. The author details how to perform DFMEA, including incorporating boundary diagrams and parameter diagrams, and considering special characteristics. A DFMEA is a living document that provides lessons learned about past failures and can be used as a template for future DFMEAs.