Graphical Cause and Effect Map for FMEA Risk Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional FMEA techniques are text-based and time-consuming, requiring extensive effort and resources due to their structured nature, making it challenging to effectively engage participants and visualize risk information across systems and components.
Innovation Solution
A graphical cause and effect map is generated and displayed, allowing direct visual representation of failure modes and associated risks in a hierarchical tree-like structure, enabling efficient risk management by allowing user interaction and automatic updating, thereby reducing analysis time and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional text-based FMEA spreadsheet methods are used, then structured risk assessment can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires extensive resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical text-based spreadsheet filling process with an automated computer-based system that uses graphical interfaces and algorithms to perform FMEA analysis automatically, eliminating manual data entry and calculation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual digital model of the FMEA process using computer software that replicates and automates the risk assessment workflow, allowing rapid analysis without physical spreadsheet manipulation
2Loss of information
If conventional text-based FMEA methods are used, then comprehensive risk data can be captured, but participant engagement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional two-dimensional spreadsheet interface into an interactive graphical user interface with visual elements, icons, and graphical representations that make the FMEA process more intuitive and engaging for participants while maintaining comprehensive data capture capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-based graphical interface as an intermediary between participants and the FMEA data collection process, making interaction more user-friendly and engaging while ensuring complete risk information is captured
3Reliability
If detailed structured FMEA analysis is performed, then thorough risk assessment is achieved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the FMEA system to perform automatic risk calculations, data processing, and analysis without requiring extensive manual intervention or expert facilitator time, allowing the system to serve itself and reducing external resource requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and computer-readable instructions for capturing and reporting information for a failure mode effects analysis. One method includes populating and generating a cause and effect map via a graphical user interface, the cause and effect map having a plurality of events interconnected with one or more propagation lines and of the plurality of events being associated with one or more potential failures of a component or subsystem of a system, performing a failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) on the cause and effect map, graphically depicting the cause and effect map to reflect risk based on the FMEA, and visually distinguishing at least one of the plurality of events.