Generally speaking, FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is usually done in a spreadsheet. Although JMP is not a traditional spreadsheet program, its data sheets have a highly similar interface and functionality to those of a spreadsheet, and can perform many similar operations. In fact, JMP 's data sheet is an ideal tool for FMEA work. Next, we will explore how to practice FMEA in JMP to help you complete table tracking, data analysis and visualization within one platform without switching between multiple tools. (The original text of this article comes from the JMP community article , which was edited and published in Traditional Chinese)
FMEABasic Concepts
(Picture 1)
Figure (1) above is a simple FMEA template based on the process of making a cake using aged potholders/oven mitts. Through analysis of potential failure modes and their effects at each step, this template explains how we identify and prioritize critical issues.
FMEA Concept
FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) is a systematic method for analyzing potential failure modes and their possible consequences in a system, design or process.
The main objectives of FMEA include:
- Identify potential failure modes : Determine what could go wrong at each step.
- Assess the impact of failures : Analyze the possible consequences of these problems on the product or process.
- Identify control measures : Suggest improvements to mitigate or eliminate the effects of a failure.
Three core parameters of FMEA:
- Severity (S) : Measures the impact of the failure on the result. The higher the score, the greater the impact.
- Occurrence (Occurrence, O) : measures the possibility of failure occurring. The higher the score, the greater the probability of occurrence.
- Detection (D) : measures the possibility of a failure being detected. The higher the score, the worse the detection capability.
RPN The concept and calculation of
Risk Priority Number (RPN) is an important indicator in FMEA and is used to evaluate and prioritize failure modes.
The calculation formula is: RPN=S×O×D , where:
- S stands for Severity.
- O stands for Occurrence.
- D represents detection.
The higher the RPN, the greater the potential risk of failure. Through the RPN value, high-risk failure modes can be prioritized to ensure that resources and improvement measures are focused on key issues.
Case Study
The case includes eight steps for making a cake, with each step listing potential failure modes and their effects, severity, occurrence, detection, failure causes, control measures, and improvement suggestions. The RPN of each step is calculated through a formula to help us quantify the priority of failures.
In order to make the FMEA table look more intuitive, you can make the following adjustments:
- Multiple responses : Data is stored as a comma-separated list in the Failure Mode, Failure Effects, and Causes columns. By changing the modeling type of these columns to Multiple Responses, JMP can automatically separate these responses, providing significant advantages. On the one hand, JMP's analysis platform and header charts will automatically update to display duplicate values, making it easier to spot trends (such as "Incorrect time" that frequently appears in the Failure Mode column); on the other hand, the multiple response function reduces manual operations. Accelerate the efficiency of data entry and subsequent analysis, making the entire process smoother and more efficient. As shown below (2).
(Picture 2)
- Cell coloring : Add a color gradient attribute to numeric columns to visually highlight problem areas. To speed up this operation, you can select multiple columns and use the Standardize Properties tool, which changes all specified columns at the same time. As shown in Figure (3).
(Picture 3)
After applying the color gradient, it was easily apparent that the biggest problem was the aging potholder ( RPN of 567 ). As shown in Figure (4).
(Picture 4)
- Column header coloring : JMP version 18 now supports coloring column headers. You can set the color by right-clicking on the column header text. This highlights specific fields and makes the entire table more readable. As shown in Figure (5)
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Unique advantages
Because JMP is not a simple spreadsheet, it can interact with data in different ways and achieve many functions that a spreadsheet cannot.
- Recoding : If you want to merge similar entries, you can use the JMP Recode tool to automatically detect and correct spelling errors and merge similar entries so that the header chart can be updated immediately, as shown in Figures (6) and (7).
(Picture 6)
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For example, if you select the most common failure mode in the chart, as shown in Figure (8), you can see that the corresponding failure effects are interactively displayed. In this case, purchasing timers for the process is an effective improvement measure because it can solve multiple failure points simultaneously.
(Picture 8)
- Word cloud : Word cloud can quickly and visually display the theme of the material. For example, the " incorrect time " in Figure (9) below is a prominent problem. In addition, word cloud scripts can be saved to the data table and regenerated based on the latest data at any time.
Figure (9)
- Dashboard : In JMP , creating a Dashboard is very simple, which allows teams to use FMEA as a quality improvement tool. For example, the dashboard below shows that purchasing new thermal pads will effectively address the current highest RPN risk points. As shown in Figure (10).
Figure (10)
- Scripts : JMP also allows scripts to be added to a factsheet or Dashboard . Buttons on the dashboard move relevant scores and improvements for selected fields to the "Previous / Completed" section of the template, making the tool more efficient and filling out faster.
in conclusion
JMP is a very suitable platform for FMEA work. It has spreadsheet functions such as formula calculation and cell coloring, making it easy to record and track FMEA . In addition, JMP provides more extended functions, such as Dashboard , data analysis and automated scripts, which greatly exceeds the limitations of traditional spreadsheets and provides support for more efficient data analysis and decision-making processes.
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