Abstract
This paper presents a systematic method applicable at the early stages of design to enhance life-cycle quality of ownership: Advanced Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (AFMEA). The proposed method uses behavior modeling to simulate device operations and helps identify failure and customer dissatisfaction modes beyond component failures. The behavior model reasons about conditions that cause departures from normal operation and provides a framework for analyzing the consequences of failures. The paper shows how Advanced FMEA applies readily to the early stages of design and captures failure modes normally missed by conventional FMEA. The result is a systematic method capable of capturing a wider range of failure modes and effects early in the design cycle. An automatic ice maker from a domestic refrigerator serves as an illustrative example.
