November PDM – FMEA – Failure Mode Effects Analysis: A Risk Assessment Tool

Manufacturers have long recognized that products can meet specifications and still fail to satisfy customer expectations due to errors in design, flaws in the manufacturing process, product misuse, or not understanding customer wants/needs.

Traditionally quality activities have focused on detecting manufacturing and material defects that cause failures early in the life cycle. Today, activities focus on anticipating failures and preventing them before they occur.

Initially created by the military at the end of WWII, many industries have adopted and expanded on Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) as a proactive way to minimize product failures and customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, FMEA can be used to satisfy the risk assessment requirements of ISO9001:2015 and as an element of a legal defense in product failure lawsuits.

This program will serve as a basic introduction to FMEA and how to use it, with examples. It will outline the systematic approach of FMEA and some of the nuances of using it.

Glenn Tanzman is the President of Tanzco Management Consulting LLC, which provides training and consulting in Lean Manufacturing, REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, Quality, and Supply Chain Management. Tanzco provides consulting services to many small and mid-sized companies here in the Hudson Valley like SP Scientific, Alcoa Fastening Systems, and Stamford Scientific, but his client list also includes IBM, Zodiac Aerospace, Airbus, and Wyeth Labs.

Glenn worked for Dutchess Community College first as the manager for Certified Production Technician Program and then as the Business Development Manager including the Start-Up New York program. Glenn started the new Airplane Mechanics training program including securing $ 8,000,000 to build a hanger facility for the program which is currently underway at Dutchess Airport. Glenn retired from DCC at the end of 2017.

Glenn has an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, and a BS in Chemistry from CCNY. He is a Certified Manufacturing Engineer from SME, a Certified Quality Engineer from ASQ. Glenn serves on the Board of ASQ Section 302. Glenn is an ISO 9001/ISO 14001 Certified Lead Auditor and has achieved the RABQSA-OI level as a Business Improvement QMS Auditor.

Glenn served as Commander of American Legion Post 1302 in Arlington. He is the President of the Brotherhood of Vassar Temple and serves on their Board of Trustees.

Glenn has taught Operational Management and Organizational Behavior courses at Marist and Mount Saint Mary College and Quality Control and Lean Manufacturing at Naugatuck Valley Community College.