Link a failure cause to a failure mode

Before a failure cause can be linked to a failure mode, the following must be in place:

• For a part, at least one failure mode and at least one failure cause must be defined.

• A failure cause can only be defined if at least one component has been defined for the part.

There are two ways to link a failure cause to a failure mode, each with two variations in the user actions

• Starting at the failure mode end:

  • Creating a link from the failure mode to a failure cause using drag and drop.

  • Creating a link from the failure mode to the failure cause using select, point, and click.

• Starting at the failure cause end:

  • Creating a link from the failure cause to a failure mode using drag and drop.

  • Creating a link from the failure cause to the failure mode using select, point, and click.

To create a link from the failure mode to a failure cause:

1. Click to select the failure mode you wish to link to a failure cause.

   The failure mode will show as selected, in the example below does not open/close in reaction to demand

   Any existing links to failure causes will be shown as a vertical blue line, where the connected failure cause will be marked by a blue dot on the blue line. A large dot at the top of the line will indicate the number of existing links the selected failure mode currently has with failure causes. In the example below, there are already three connections, shown by the number on top, and the three dots on the blue line marking the specific failure causes.

   

2. Choose the way to create a new link: drag/drop or point and click

   • Drag/drop

   1. Click and hold the left mouse button on the failure mode

   2. Drag the failure mode onto the desired failure cause and release the left mouse button. In the example below, the failure mode does not open/close in reaction to demand is dropped on the failure cause Defect, ball value - Ageing. While dragging, a square with the name of the failure mode will move along with the mouse as the failure mode to be dropped.
      

      After dropping the failure mode onto a failure cause, the square will disappear while a icon confirms that the link is about to be established. As soon as the user moves the mouse, the icon will be replaced by another blue dot, confirming that the new link is now active.

      

   • Point and click

   1. With the mouse at the selected failure mode, move the mouse downwards to failure cause in the same structure.

   2. While moving the mouse downwards, a gray line will extend from the failure mode indicating that it is possible to search for a valid failure cause to link to. Each time the mouse hovers over a valid failure cause a plus sign will appear. In case there was already a connection between the failure mode and another failure cause, a blue line will already be shown as in the previous example. The blue line. In that case, the plus sign will appear on the blue line whenever the user passes a valid failure cause that can be linked.
      

   3. Click the plus sign to confirm you wish to create a link with that Failure cause.

      As a result, the plus sign will change into a cross sign (to delete the connection again if desired), while a vertical blue line will connect the failure mode with the failure cause.

To add a link from the failure cause to a failure mode

3. Click and select the failure cause that needs to be linked.

   • Drag/drop

   1. Select the failure cause you wish to connect.

   2. Still in the same position, click and hold the left mouse button to start dragging. In the example below, the failure cause Defect, ball value - Ageing is dropped on the failure mode does not open/close in reaction to demand While dragging, a square with the name of the failure cause will move along with the mouse as the failure cause to be dropped.
      

      After dropping the failure cause onto a failure mode, the square will disappear while a plus sign confirms that the link has been established. As soon as the user moves the mouse, the plus sign will be replaced by a blue dot, confirming that the new link is now active. Also, a number at the bottom of the line will indicate the current number of connections this failure cause now has. As this is a one to one relationship, this number will always be 1.

Note: to replace an existing connection between the failure cause and a failure mode with another failure mode, follow the same procedure, ignoring the existing connection and simply picking a different plus sign.

• Point and click

1. Move the mouse to a free failure mode within the same part. A failure mode is free when a gray line appears ending in a circle with a plus sign .

2. Click the plus sign icon to create the link. The link will be established, which is shown by a blue line between the failure cause and the failure mode, now ending in a cross sign .

   

   The resulting link is shown as a blue vertical line starting with the number 1 at the bottom and ending in a blue dot.

Note: to replace an existing connection between the failure cause and a failure mode with another failure mode, follow the same procedure, ignoring the existing connection and simply picking a different plus sign.