Basic Terms
- Failure
- The loss of an intended function of a device under stated conditions.
- Failure mode
- The manner or way by which a failure is observed in terms of failure of the part function under investigation; it may generally describe the way the failure occurs. It shall at least clearly describe a (end) failure state of the item/function under consideration as result of the failure mechanism (cause of the failure mode). For example; a fractured axle or an open electrical contact can be a failure mode.
- Failure Cause and/or Mechanism
- Defects in requirements, design, process, quality control, handling or part application, which are the underlying cause or sequence of causes that initiate a process (mechanism) that leads to a failure mode over a certain time. A failure mode may have more causes. For example; fatigue or corrosion of a beam or contact is a failure mechanism and not a failure mode. The related failure mode (state) under analysis could be a "full fracture of structural beam" or for example "a open electrical contact". The initial Cause might have been "Improper application of corrosion protection layer (paint)" and /or "(abnormal) vibration input from another failed system".
- Failure effect
- Immediate consequences of a failure on operation, function or functionality, or status of some item
- Indenture levels
- An identifier for item complexity. Complexity increases as levels are closer to one.
- Local effect
- The failure effect as it applies to the item under analysis.
- Next higher level effect
- The failure effect as it applies at the next higher indenture level.
- End effect
- The failure effect at the highest indenture level or total system.
- Severity
- The consequences of a failure mode. Severity considers the worst potential consequence of a failure, determined by the degree of injury, property damage, system damage and/or time lost to repair the failure.
Read more about this topic: Failure Mode And Effects Analysis
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