Automating failure modes and effects analysis

This paper presents the current results of a multiyear effort to automate failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and its associated reliability analysis. A modular approach to modeling the system failure behavior is described. A component module definition contains a declarative part (inputs, outputs and mode variables) and a behavioral part (mode logic). A system is defined as a block diagram of the component modules and their interconnects. The FMEA is produced through a simulation of the failure propagation process. An actuator control system is analyzed and examples of automatically generated FMEA output are given. For each failure mode, the automated FMEA report lists all resulting component mode changes, declares a single point failure if appropriate, traces multiple failure effects, declares degraded modes of operation and provides the probability of the failure mode occurring. It is believed that robust automated FMEA has been demonstrated. The modular approach unifies FMEA and associated analyses with other system behavior methodologies (such as performance analysis). This brings FMEA analysis closer to the system designer at the risk of alienating classical FMEA analysts