Doing Module 1 Assignments: a simple FMEA and a basic Equipment Criticality

[MikeS]

In Module 1 of the MPS course there are two assignments for you to do.

You do the assessments indicated in the PowerPoint slides. You need
to do the FMEA with proof of risk reduction (assignment 1) and the
equipment criticality (assignment 2).

For assignment 1 (FMEA) you will need to prove that the maintenance
activities you select to address or prevent each failure cause you
list will actually reduce the risk of the failure from that cause.

There is no value in doing maintenance work that does not protect the
equipment from risk of failure. If you cannot show on a risk matrix
that there is a definite reduction in risk by doing a maintenance task
then do not do that maintenance, as it is a waste of time and
resources because the risk level has not changed. That is why you are
asked to check your failure cause mitigation choices on the risk
matrix to 'prove' that by doing them they do reduce the risk of
failure to the parts/equipment.

You 'prove' that there will be a risk reduction from doing the
maintenance work if you can show on the matrix that there is:

1) lower consequence by doing the maintenance (i.e. not so much money
is lost because the activity prevents a breakdown or production
problem),

2) a sure reduction in the likelihood of the failure (because the
maintenance activity you selected sustantially reduces the stress on
the equipment parts and so the parts do not break and the machine
stays in operation).

If you cannot show reduction in risk then find better activity(ies)
that will surely prevent or correct the failure cause and guarantee
lower risk.

You can first do the FMEA in assignment 1 but you will probably need
to finish assignment 1 after doing assignment 2 so that you have an
idea of what a risk matrix is and how it is used to prove risk
reduction. Then you can go back and complete assignment 1 to check
for lowering of risk.

If you have any questions please ask.

My best regards to you,

MikeS