I would like to use our PFMEA information more on the shop floor, to to use as an easy to use fault finding tool.
Has anyone got any good examples of layouts and methods of how to re-format a PFMEA so that shop floor people can more easily use it.

I would like to use our PFMEA information more on the shop floor, to to use as an easy to use fault finding tool.
Has anyone got any good examples of layouts and methods of how to re-format a PFMEA so that shop floor people can more easily use it.


A lot of companies have their FMEAs available on the floor, but do not reformat at all. I don't think they are particularly beneficial for operators, they were designed more for engineering use. Unless your processes are very complex, they may not be needed. If they are needed, you probably need all the columns and data currently on the existing format.

FMEA does not necessarily to be seen on the shop floor. FMEA is used to identify the risks and drive process controls at front portion of process planning. In stead, the Inspection Sheet, SPC Chart, Detailed Work Instructions,etc., which are supposed to be driven from FMEA, should be put on the shop floor for operators to use.

My two cents.............

With PFMEA you do measure ptential failures and effects then you get your RPN Values. Pareto diagram can be used to highlight your highest RPN Values so you can use that as a tool that can be used on the shop floor identifying key area's to concerntrate on and it is still limked to the PFMEA and I agree that you have your Work instructions and control methods to drive your FMEA. To use the FMEA on the shop floor won't be a good Idea as it is not graphical, so use graphical methods to show what is in the FMEA like pareto analysis. What I am currently doing at my new company is implementing a FMEA Improvement Procedure where I involve all the neccessary people. I have give a Fault Tree Analysis sheet to the Team Leaders where they sit with there relevant people and identify new and current failures within the system.

Hope this Helps:D

:blowup:Quality Is A Way Of Life :blowup:

Its of no use.

Even at the Supervisory levels, FMEA is not well understood. Not even the Control Pans.

In the shop floor, we provide more instructions in the form of "Dos and Don'ts"
And the control plans are divided into process / operationwise and displayed near the workstations.
Shop floor personnel are not burdened with more information which either not necessary for them OR they may not understand.