FMECA Grid
- Last UpdatedMay 21, 2025
- 6 minute read
In the Seven steps of the FMECA method in step 5 the effects of failure are defined with respect to the business objectives. This is accomplished using the FMECA Grid. In the FMECA Grid an overview is given of all the parts that are present in the selected (sub) systems. For each part a list is shown displaying the defined failure modes. Next to each failure mode are a number of columns where the user may define the effects for each business objects, like in step 5. The number of columns depends on the number of business objectives that were defined in step 2. For each business objective a choice can be made from the set of classes that were defined in step 3. In the column of each business objective the failure effect on the level of the subsystem can be entered. This provides more insight in the failure effect with respect to the business objectives.
FMECA Grid Failure Modes
Each Part in the FMECA grid can be allocated multiple failure modes. Next, you can specify for each failure mode what its effect is on a business objective. If you have opted for a Default Value effect on the business objective when specifying the business objectives, this effect will become the default value. The failure mode is the way in which the failure is expressed, and is specified by the selected input for a Failure Cause. The failure mode is the association between a failure cause and a business objective.
In the column Comments free text can be entered with a description of the effect. This may aid in the process of verifying the effects.
To add a failure mode to one of the parts, you must first activate the part of your
choice. To do so, click the part. Next, click the 
button to create a failure mode. The part details are fixed, and cannot be edited
in the FMECA grid. The Failure Mode field is a free-text field, into which the user
can enter the relevant details. Under each Business Objective, you can select from
the available effects. These classifications were entered while specifying the Business Objectives.
Using the checkbox 'Display failure cause count' a new column appears showing the number of failure causes that are linked to a failure mode.
The FMECA Grid
|
FIELD |
DESCRIPTION |
|
New |
Create a new line for the selected Part below the selected Part. In the new line, additional Failure modes can be defined with an optional comment. Then, the criticality fields to the right should be filled. |
|
Delete rows |
With this option, the selected row will be marked for deletion. The actual delete action will not be performed until one of the buttons OK or Apply have been pressed. To undo a deletion can be done by pressing the Cancel button (before performing an Apply or pressing OK!). Mark that by using the Cancel button, other changes will be discarded as well. |
|
Clear cell range |
With this button the user may delete a selection of (white!) cells in one click. Important: the cells will appear empty, but deletion will be executed when the OK button or Apply button are pressed. By using the Cancel button in time, actual deletion can be prevented. |
|
Excel |
The FMECA Grid and the presented data can be exported to a Microsoft Excel format using the button Excel > Excel Export. The chosen lay-out will be copied one on one. |
|
Save layout / Clear layout |
To save the layout for later use, the button "Save layout" can be used. Please note that this is an application level setting and will be applied to all users. To change the layout it can first be cleared, using button "Clear layout". |
|
Display failure cause count |
Provides an additional column with column head Failure causes. For each Part the column shows how often the failure mode of that row has been selected for the failure causes defined for that Part.
|
|
OK/Cancel/Apply |
As soon as you change anything in the FMECA Grid, the changed row will be printed bold. When you next press the OK button, the changes will be saved, and the screen will be closed. If you press Apply instead, the changes will also be saved, but the screen will remain open, and the all bold lines will appear in normal font again, indicating that the save was complete. Pressing Cancel will cancel all changes made manually, or by using the button Clear cell range (see above). |
Path by name
The column Path by name displays in the FMECA grid the structure in which the part is placed. This shows where that specific part can be found in the asset tree.
Changing the Layout
The lay-out of the FMECA grid is freely adjustable for users. Adjustments include sizing the width of columns, changing the order of columns and/or hiding of specific columns. Lay-out modifications will not be stored by default. After reopening the FMECA grid the lay-out adjustments will be undone.
To save the lay-out adjustments the button "Save layout" can be pressed, in the right upper corner of the grid. Please note that this is an application level setting and will be applied to all users.
Choosing more columns
In case you are finding that one or more business objectives are missing in the layout then they are possibly removed at an earlier date. Through the 'column chooser' (right click one of the column headers) you can add the missing objective.
No comments in FMECA Grid?
Tip: If no comments seem to be present in the FMECA Grid, where they previously used to be (especially after upgrading to version 8.1), then this may be caused by the chosen layout. Press Clear Layout to revert back to the default layout which should reveal the comments column again.
Columns in FMECA Grid partly in different language?
Tip: If you find that columns of the FMECA Grid are partly in another language, then possibly the language settings has been changed before, while the layout was saved. Press Clear Layout to revert back to the default layout which should reveal the comments column again.
Easy copying
Tip: You can speed up filling the FMECA Grid effects if you have multiple rows which require the same values. In that case, select more than one effect in one row by selecting the first, then holding the Shift key and then clicking the last effect. Now copy this selection (Ctrl-C). Next select a cell in another row (similar to the most left cell of the selection). Press Ctrl-V to paste all selected row values at once. You may repeat the last steps for other rows which require these same values.
You may also include the failure mode itself in the copy operation. In that case, work from right to left while selecting. Select the failure mode last.