2. Analysis of failure modes, their effects and criticality

Failure Mode, Effect and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) is a predictive reliability analysis method which systematically identifies potential failures in a system, then estimates the risks associated with the occurrence of these failures, in order to initiate corrective actions. FMECA first appeared in France in the aeronautical industry (Concorde then Airbus) in the 1960s (see box). Introduced into the mass-production manufacturing industry in the 1980s, it is still widely applied today. The process industry, on the other hand, more readily implements the HAZOP method, whose foundations are inspired by FMECA.