Web-based failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA)

This paper presents a prototype computer system that supports FMEA on the Internet. The general procedure of applying the web-based FMEA is as follows. The user, whether in Hong Kong or Mainland China or other parts of the world, uses the web browser to connect the client machine to the FMEA web server which may be located in Hong Kong headquarters or at manufacturing plants in Mainland China. Once connected, the user follows the system instructions and enters the necessary inputs on the appropriate web pages. The inputted data are analysed locally by the client machines or sent to the server for relevant processing. Both inputted data and derived data are stored in a database which may reside in the client machine or the FMEA web server or another networked database server. Hard copies of relevant documents may be generated and printed out as necessary according to the client requests.