Failure Analysis in the Cloud
The failure analysis software is available as a cloud product, which means that the provider has also responded to the changing working conditions. In recent years, jobs are no longer set in stone and more and more employees are in home offices. This has many advantages for employers as well, because the cloud solution also makes it easier for on-site employees to work on a project.
Compliance with Standards
Failure and risk analysis is also subject to certain standards. These include AIAG/VDA standards and ISO standards. As part of failure analysis, companies must provide evidence of certifications and also internal audits. With the help of FMEA software, it is possible to comply with these standards more easily, which significantly improves the quality of the analyses.
This is also evident from the significant simplification in the creation of analyses. An FMEA software solution offers a lot of different functions that previously used spreadsheets do not offer. Especially from a certain project size, analyses with spreadsheets are no longer sufficient, because with them it is hardly possible for many companies to comply with the standards.
One advantage for companies is that they remain up-to-date with regard to innovations. If norms and standards change, these also flow into the further development of the products.
Small Changes with Wide-Ranging Effects
Failure analysis is now performed in many companies to catch problems early. However, even minor modifications such as changes in the production process can result in new risks. Often, the mistake is made here not to make a new analysis because the effort is too great, or analyses from other projects are used which, however, are not exactly matched to the process.
With the help of an FMEA software solution, companies can adapt their analyses even in the event of minimal changes. Meanwhile, economic dynamics are already creating new problems, such as a shortage of certain resources. These factors also influence an analysis and can be taken into account with suitable software solutions.
The effort to incorporate such modifications into a risk analysis is minimal. The advantage for companies is that they can quickly see whether modifications are worthwhile at all, or whether they involve far greater risks. This also gives companies a better basis for strategic development, because it is not uncommon for a product relaunch to turn into a failure without a comprehensive failure analysis.
Find the Best Solution
FMEA software offers different methods for analyzing defects and risks. Thanks to the cloud-based software solution, companies can flexibly decide which tools they use for the company or perhaps only for one project.
For example, the software supports model-based working. This has the advantage that work can be done visually, which can speed up certain processes. Especially when it comes to developing products for customers, the visual presentation is often more helpful than the presentation of bare figures, as systemic relationships can be better grasped.
Different sub-aspects of the analyses of risks and defects often use the same data or build on each other in terms of content. By networking methods and a shared database, data can be accessed centrally. This also avoids the risk of working with incorrect figures, and changes that could affect other processes become quickly visible. The networking of the different methods in the cloud solution thus also contribute to better quality in the creation of a risk analysis.
It is important for an FMEA software solution to already provide methods that can be used, but it still offers companies sufficient flexibility to integrate their own methods. For example, if complaints or costs incurred for returns are important for the analysis, these can be integrated into their own method sheets. This flexibility also allows the software to be used for many different projects, whether B2B or B2C.
Although it is important to create a separate failure analysis for each project, it can be advantageous to be able to fall back on existing templates for different projects. Especially if custom methods have already been created that have proven successful, they can be reused for other projects. Companies that use an FMEA software solution are therefore not only supported in the failure analysis for the current project, they can also access a knowledge database of past projects at the same time. Risk analysis is also important for this reason, so that risks that have arisen in the past can already be avoided in future projects.
Better Ways to Collaborate
Pointing out errors and risks in a project is always a sensitive topic in companies. It is not uncommon for employees to shy away from addressing this issue and projects are unnecessarily pursued in the wrong direction for a long time. With the help of an FMEA software solution, however, this circumstance can be a thing of the past. The software also offers teams numerous possibilities to exchange information about possible risks and errors. There is an internal notification tool, for example, that informs affected employees about changes. This saves a lot of time in communication and effects are communicated more transparently to the entire team.
High-quality Products for Sensitive Areas
Although a risk and failure analysis should be created for every product or service, the software is particularly suitable for developments in sensitive areas. This includes the automotive industry, for example, but the aviation industry also benefits from the comprehensive software package. Thanks to the smooth integration of various standards, the software can be used in almost any field of work. Even in the food industry, the tools can be used to create products that meet the highest standards of quality.