FMEA

Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Also called: potential failure modes and effects analysis.
FMEA is a step-by-step approach for identifying all possible failures in a
design, a manufacturing process, or a product.
Failure modes means the ways in which something may fail. Failures
are any errors or defects that affect the customer.
Effects analysis refers to studying the consequences of those failures.
Failures are prioritized according to how serious their consequences are,
how frequently they occur and how easily they can be detected. The
purpose of the FMEA is to take actions to eliminate or reduce failures,
starting with the highest-priority ones.

FMEA is used during design to prevent failures. Ideally,

FMEA begins during the earliest conceptual stages of
design and continues throughout the life of the product or
service.
It is also used for reliability when historical records of
equipment failure is not available.

RAM Analysis

Reliability, Availability & Maintainability (RAM)modeling

assesses a production systems capabilities, whether it is in
operation or still in the design phase. The results from
aRAM modelingwill identify possible causes of production
losses and can examine possible system alternatives.
TheRAM studyis a tool for decision-making with help for
costs versus benefits analysis.
Based on theRAM results, recommendations to improve
thesystem availability: addequipmentin parallel to the one
that is often unavailable, keep spare parts in the store,
orreduced maintenance, etc.can be made.

RAM Modeling
RAM modeling can simulate the configuration, operation,
failure, repair and maintenance of equipment. The inputs for
a RAM modeling will include the physical components,
equipment configuration and maintenance philosophy in a
system and the outputs can determine average production
of the system over the facility or vessel life. RAM studies will
generate sufficient data needed in order to make decisions
for possible systems changes that may increase system
efficiency, and therefore increase project profits.
RAM process help answer questions including:
o Identifying bottlenecks in the production
o Detecting failures in the early part of design
o Comparing different design options for production
o Optimizing maintenance schedules
o Identifying equipment maintenance priorities on

Risk Based Inspection

RBI is most often used inengineeringindustries and is

predominant in theoiland gas industry. Assessed risk levels
are used to develop an inspection plan.
Inspections typically employnon-destructive testing(NDT).
Items with high probability and high risk are given a higher
priority for inspection than items that are high probability
but for which failure has low consequences.
The purposes of RBI include:
To reduce inspections and shutdowns and provide longer
run length without compromising safety or reliability
To reduce the risk of failures
To increase plant availability and reduce unplanned
outages
To provide a flexible technique able to continuously
improve and adopt to changing risks
To ensure inspection techniques and methods consider