STEP 4: Define failure behavior

Adding failure causes and failure conditions

When parts and underlying components have been entered, completing the object tree, the next step is to define the failure properties of the various components. This includes the failure mode, the failure cause, the MTTF (Mean Time To Failure) and the corresponding variance. Many components have more failure causes that may cause a part to fail. Applying the FMECA method correctly, proves its value during this step.

Note: For more information on how to add failure modes and failure causes, see the topic Failure Modes.

Adding a Failure mode

Adding a failure mode of a system is different for the FM Library than for the FMECA tree.

Note: For more information on how to add failure modes, see the topic Failure Modes.

Tip: To perform a complete FMECA, the steps below can be followed. As an alternative, a Quick FMECA can quickly and easily reveal if a failing part of a process or unit is critical or not. For more information, please consult the topic about Quick FMECA.

Adding FBM actions (repair duration and costs)

After entering the failure cause and failure mode as part of step 4, this step is not complete until the repair duration has been added. The repair duration is generally based on the way corrective maintenance is carried out. Therefore, for each failure cause, a corrective (FBM) action will be added. Asset Strategy Optimization also allows for adding preventive maintenance actions, the CBM and UBM actions.

FBM stands for Failure Based Maintenance, CBM means Conditions Based Maintenance, and UBM means Use Based Maintenance.

Note: For more information on how to add FBM information, see the topic Maintenance - FBM action.
- For more information on how to add CBM information, see the topic Maintenance - CBM action.
- For more information on how to add UBM information, see the topic Maintenance - UBM action.

Adding Costs

Part of FMECA is to understand what costs are involved related to failure of systems and on the related (corrective or preventive) maintenance. Costs can be entered related to categories, where Asset Strategy Optimization can sum up the total over all categories. Alternatively, a general estimate of total costs can be entered to work with. The cost categories are user defined.

Only one set of cost categories can be defined at any one time in Asset Strategy Optimization!

Note: For more information on how to enter costs in Asset Strategy Optimization, see the topic Maintenance - tab Costs.
- For more information on how to define cost categories, see the topic Cost Categories.

Reports

The report "Maintenance Actions" provides an overview of the failure modes, failure causes, failure conditions, downtime etc. For each failure cause the associated FBM action is indicated. The parts are sorted by tag number and grouped by (sub) system.