FMEA's for non-manufacturing sites

[rvanderbilt]

Hello,
I am at a non-manufacturing facility. We have a few FMEA's and control plans that we have been trying to incorporate into our way of doing things but we are at our infancy stages in going down this path. The fact I have them now does that mean I open myself up to opportunities of a non-conformance from an IATF auditor if they are not as correct and incorporated as they could be? Do they have to be at a level similar to that of a production facility and are they now subject to needing frequent internal audits?

 

[pziemlewicz]

Is your process documented in a map? That would be my first step. Then translate the process map into a Control Plan. Finally look at the data to see where there have been failures or near misses and this becomes the FMEA.

 

[rvanderbilt]

Hello, Thanks for your feedback. The process is documented in a map. I guess my question would be, Am I held to any clauses in the IATF standard where FMEAs are concerned if I am not a manufacturing site?

 

[MrGatsby]

Hello, Thanks for your feedback. The process is documented in a map. I guess my question would be, Am I held to any clauses in the IATF standard where FMEAs are concerned if I am not a manufacturing site?

Hi @rvanderbilt,

Is this facility currently certified in any IATF standard (I believe you are referring to the IATF 16949), or are you already being audited by that organization? If so I believe it would be wise, if not necessary, to build your FMEA process to that standard, regardless if you are a manufacturer. I have not been in an organization dealing with the IATF so I do not know what you mean by your original statement of "...not as correct or incorporated as they should be", but the ISO certified company I was with made sure any changes or new processes did not conflict with any part of our certification. Hope this helps!

 

[Ron Rompen]

Agree with MrGatsby. You can only be held to the IATF standard IF you are being audited to that standard OR if your internal procedures require it (internal procedures have the same 'importance' as the standard you are being audited to).
I have written PFMEAs for a variety of companies, none of which were 'manufacturing sites' in the traditional sense. As an example, I wrote one for a person who runs 3 chip wagons - he wanted to improve his business AND make sure that everyone (not just the customer, but himself AND his workers) was safe and happy.

PFMEA is a powerful tool that can be used for any kind of business - you just need to be careful not to constrain yourself when writing your internal procedures and policies.