Abstract

To achieve high quality designs, processes, and services that meet or exceed industry standards, it is crucial to identify all potential failures throughout a system and work to minimize or prevent their occurrence or effects. This paper presents an innovative approach to Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) that uses a Decision Support System (DSS) for supporting the FMEA processes. The DSS is powered by a workflow engine that guides the users through the processes by considering standard work templates or previous similar cases. It is also built as a framework for decision support tools so, beside its default one, different FMEA work instruments can be plugged-in and used throughout a workflow instance by exchanging results in a common data format. Collaboration is assured by the systems web-based interface that supports multiple users from anywhere, at any time.