DFMEA vs PFMEA

“DFMEA” and “PFMEA” are “Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis” and “Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis.” FMEA is a method or procedure which analyzes potential failure modes in operations management and product development within a system and classifies the failures depending upon the likelihood or severity of the failure. “Failure mode” refers to any defects or errors in a design, process, or item which affects the customer. “Effects analysis” refers to the study of the consequences of the failures. FMEA is used widely in the service industry and manufacturing industries. These analyses help identify the potential failure modes and prioritizing the countermeasures thereby helping the team to reduce the failures. It also helps a company in cutting the costs and reducing development time.

DFMEA
“DFMEA” stands for “Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis.” DFMEA is an application of FMEA especially for product design. It begins at the concept development stage. It is a procedure used basically in engineering to explore the possibility of a design failing in a real-world situation or use. It is a document which compiles the key functions in a design and analyzes the potential causes of failure modes. Once the causes of failure mode are identified, the team tries to reduce the causes of failure through an implementation of countermeasures.

The primary tools used for DFMEA is a DFMEA matrix. This matrix offers a structure for compiling and documenting related information which includes product data, revision dates, and team members. These procedures are team efforts and can be created by using software, electronic spreadsheets, or pen and paper.

PFMEA
“PFMEA” stands for “Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis.” It is used for analyzing failure modes for a particular process that might be taking place in an organization or business unit. PFMEA is helpful in identifying the causes of the failure mode and then using a team with prior experience and the data collected for the causes of failure modes to rectify or reduce the effects of the failure mode.

It is a structured tool used by all kinds of organizations to evaluate different potential failures and also the identification of the failure modes by collecting information. It helps in establishing what the impact of the failure mode will be and prioritizes the actions necessary for alleviating the risk. PFMEA is a document, and it should be initiated before any new product process and maintained throughout the life cycle of the product.

In PFMEA, all failure modes associated with a process are captured and then their RPN number (Risk Priority Number) is calculated. RPN is a product of the severity of the risk associated with the failure mode, probability of occurrence of the cause which generates that failure mode and detectability.

Summary:

1.“PFMEA” stands for “Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis”; “DFMEA” stands for “Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis.”
2.DFMEA is an application of FMEA especially for product design; PFMEA is an application of FMEA especially for a process in an organization or business unit.

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