Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What is not true about Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)?

1. FMEA does not identify multiple failures, human factors and interfaces

2. FMEA focuses solely on equipment failures

3. FMEA is a qualitative method

4. FMEA helps prioritize risks

The correct answer is: FMEA does not identify multiple failures, human factors and interfaces

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a systematic approach used to identify potential failure modes in a system and their causes, as well as the effects these failures might have on the system. One of the significant benefits of FMEA is that it not only considers equipment failures but also incorporates multiple failures, human factors, and interface issues. The assertion that FMEA does not identify multiple failures, human factors, and interfaces is incorrect. In practice, FMEA aims to thoroughly analyze how various components interact, including the potential human errors that could contribute to failures. By doing so, it provides a comprehensive understanding of risks within a system. In contrast, other options highlight aspects that are true about FMEA. It is recognized that FMEA focuses on identifying potential failure modes, which can include equipment as well as operational processes rather than solely on equipment failures. FMEA is also known as a qualitative method, as it relies on expert judgment and experience to assess failures rather than quantitative data. Furthermore, an essential purpose of FMEA is to prioritize risks based on their severity, frequency, and detectability, allowing organizations to allocate resources effectively and address the most significant risks first.