" We chose the quality because the luck had become too expensive. " (Jean Abraham) " In the running in the quality, there is no finishing line. " (David Kearns) " The quality is never an accident; it is always the result of an intelligent effort. " (John Ruskin)

The mode of failure is the perceptible or observable character of the malfunction, i.e. the symptom. It corresponds to the loss or the degradation of a function, or a variation compared to a specification. It is initially advisable to seek information necessary to identify the malfunctions observed at the time of the various life phases of a product from its storage to its withdrawal of service, while passing by its use. The census of the various modes of failure must be as complete as possible, and include/understand all the plausible and potential modes of failure of the analyzed entity.