What does FMEA stand for?

FMEA stands for Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. This is a systematic method for evaluating a process or product to identify where and how it might fail, and assessing the relative impact of different failures in order to identify which are most critical to address. The goal of FMEA is to improve the design or process, enhance reliability, and prevent failures before they occur by proactively identifying potential failure modes and analyzing their effects.

This approach is widely used in various industries, particularly in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and healthcare, as it helps organizations prioritize risks associated with their operations or products. By focusing on potential failure modes, teams can implement preventive measures, ensure compliance with safety standards, and improve overall quality.

The other options do not accurately reflect the methodology associated with FMEA. They either describe unrelated concepts or use similar terminology that does not align with failure mode analysis, which is specifically targeted at understanding failure impacts and mitigating risks in designs and processes.