Risk Management vs. FMEA

[fialor]

I come across this discussion more often than I care to count.
The writeup below is a good explanation of the FMEA/risk management conversation.
http://blog.greenlight.guru/en-iso-...baS98QYsSQD4Cum9xpqWdGjFKv1R5A&_hsmi=49268554
I hope you all find it useful.
Fialor

 

[Roland chung]

Thank you for the sharing.

For contract manufacturer (produces product on behalf of their client), is FMEA sufficient?

 

[Ronen E]

Thank you for the sharing.

For contract manufacturer (produces product on behalf of their client), is FMEA sufficient?

The point is FMEA does not equal risk management.

Where a formal risk management is required, a stand-alone FMEA wouldn't suffice.

 

[Jen Kirley]

I agree with Ronen. FMEA arranges and stores information. Risk management is what we do with what's been identified. FMEA is not required to do that, but could help the team make decisions in some cases.

 

[Roland chung]

In the real world, many contract manufacturers perform the PFMEA only. They think the legal manufacturer is responsible for the ISO 14971.

 

[Ronen E]

In the real world, many contract manufacturers perform the PFMEA only. They think the legal manufacturer is responsible for the ISO 14971.

When you bring official responsibility into the picture, you need to consider:

1. What is the applicable regulatory (geographical) domain, and what are the applicable requirements.

2. What is spelled out in any written contract.

In relation to your statement:
- ISO 14971 (more accurately EN ISO 14971) is officially relevant in the EU, less in other domains.
- Even in the EU, EN ISO 14971 application is not mandatory.
- The legal manufacturer is indeed responsible for regulatory compliance in the vast majority of cases and issues.
- In some (rather rare) instances under the USA regulation the contract manufacturer bears the primary regulatory responsibility (however, that regulation doesn't have a blanket risk-management requirement, certainly not for ISO 14971 compliance)
- Much of the above can be altered by the specific manufacturing contract, which would then be binding for both sides (however, no such contract can relieve both sides from an explicit regulatory requirement).

FMEAs (and the likes) from contract manufacturers can and should be fed into the risk management process.

 

[kuyakut]

Is EN ISO 14971 is more applicable to medical device manufacturer?
Is FMEA more relevant and applicable to component manufacturer?

 

[Ronen E]

Is EN ISO 14971 is more applicable to medical device manufacturer?
Is FMEA more relevant and applicable to component manufacturer?

EN ISO 14971 is relevant to medical device manufacturers placing their devices on the EU market. Theoretically it is voluntary.

FMEA is a technique relevant to almost all manufacturers. In the medical devices context it's voluntary. It can serve as part of an EN ISO 14971 compliant program.

 

[lewisking34]

Good read, thanks for sharing!

 

[tazer]

Interesting and fun, thanks for sharing.
I would not leave turkey meals in the fridge anymore.