Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis SFMEA/SFMECA

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Ann Marie Neufelder wrote the book on Software FMEAs.  She is a recognized software failure modes effects analysis expert and has been performing Software FMEAs for more than 30 years. She has constructed Software FMEAs for many types of software and firwmare applications.  She knows how to tailor the SFMEA analysis to maximize effectiveness while minimizing cost. 

Ann Marie has researched more than 400 software failure modes / root cause pairs and identified when they are the most visible in the lifecycle.  Some are most visible during the requirements phase, some during design, some during code reviews and some during testing. 

Ann Marie can quickly and effectively review, facilitate or perform a  software FMEA or a firmware FMEA.

Benefits of a Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis (SFMEA)

• Software FMEA focuses on the failure space which can account for as much as 50% of all latent defects.
• Strengthen the requirements, interface design, detailed design, and code. 
• Develop an effective test plan that focuses on more than just the happy day scenarios.
• Develop health management software or fault tolerant software.  
• Identify common cause failure modes that span across the software
• For systems that are difficult or expensive to test such as missiles or spacecraft, the SFMEA can be invaluable for ensuring mission readiness.  

How the SFMEA/SFMECA works

The process for a SFMEA is similar to a hardware FMEA except that the SFMEA can have up to 8 different viewpoints.  Each viewpoint has applicable failure modes and root causes.  There are hundreds of possible failure mode/root causes specific to software.  A software FMECA is when the risk product number is established for each software failure mode identified.

• Requirements
• Interface design
• Detailed Design or Code
• Changes to design or code
• Usability
• Serviceability
• Cyber/Vulnerability
• Producibility

See the Introduction to SFMEAs for more information. Effective Application of Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis $125 - distributed by Quanterion Solutions Inc.

These are the 5 most common mistakes made when conducting a software FMEA.