Since 1982, the Union of French Chemical Industries recommends the FMECA method and applies it in all its safety studies. Moreover, among the methods available for risks analysis, FMECA offers a structured and systematic approach making it possible to determine the potential risks and to justify the preventive or corrective measures to take.
This method with its simple reasoning and concept remains heavy all the same. Its realization requires tiresome work. Very complicated systems should not be entirely analyzed using this method because of the large volume of information generated is not easily analysable. This is why it is difficult to optimize the effort between the cost of the analysis and the improvement cost. Moreover, concerning the approach of the personal elements, the reference to the operator is limited to their description of the failure causes and eventually as a means of compensation. On the other hand, the various failure modes of the operator are not taken into account.
More concretely and especially for the company, the study provides another vision of the system, a complete inventory of fixtures of the installation and equipment and thus creates an incomparable bank of data. It makes it possible to improve the discussions with certain departments. It thus brings supports of reflexion, decision, improvement to the actors who, from their investment, can rejuvenate the company.
Once the FMECA Study is completed, it will be examined and finally accepted or refused. The acceptance or the rejection of the FMECA file is the result of a human reflexion and consequently the fruit of a subjective judgement. It is thus obvious that the person studying the file assumes a heavy responsibility.
FMECA is effective because it encourages asking good questions at the right time, and supports communication between the various actors of the company.