// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Failure Analysis
The process of investigating the cause of a product or system failure to understand why it occurred and prevent future occurrences.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Failure Analysis is a systematic engineering discipline involving the examination of failed components, products, or systems to determine the root cause of failure, often employing techniques like microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing.
BACKGROUND
Failure analysis is the process of collecting and analyzing data to determine the cause of a failure, often with the goal of determining corrective actions or liability. According to Bloch and Geitner, ”machinery failures reveal a reaction chain of cause and effect… usually a deficiency commonly referred to as the symptom…”. Failure analysis can save money, lives, and resources if done correctly and acted upon. It is an important discipline in many branches of manufacturing industry, such as the electronics industry, where it is a vital tool used in the development of new products and for the improvement of existing products. The failure analysis process relies on collecting failed components for subsequent examination of the cause or causes of failure using a wide array of methods, especially microscopy and spectroscopy. Nondestructive testing (NDT) methods are valuable because the failed products are unaffected by analysis, so inspection sometimes starts using these methods.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Root Cause Analysis
- Forensic Engineering
- Fault Analysis
- Problem Investigation
USAGE NOTE
Crucial for product improvement, warranty claims, and safety investigations.