Title: WTFMEA: a technique for failure prevention through global knowledge sharing

Authors: C. Sudhahar, R. Suresh Premil Kumar, V. Senthil, S.R. Devadasan, R. Murugesh

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Noorul Islam College of Engineering, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay 629180, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Noorul Islam College of Engineering, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay 629180, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641014, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, P.S.G College of Technology, Coimbatore 641004, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Principal, Info Institute of Engineering, Sarkarsamakulam, Coimbatore 641107,Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a frequently employed technique to achieve continuous quality improvement through prevention of failures. Since the application of FMEA is largely restricted to design and production functions, an improved technique called Total Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (TFMEA) has been adopted in the research reported in this paper. Of late, organisations have been realising the importance of adopting Information Technology (IT) to enhance productivity in their operations. On realising its potential, IT has been tactically integrated with TFMEA to evolve a technique called Web-Based Total Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (WTFMEA). The functionality of WTFMEA has been explained using its screen outputs. The efforts made to practically validate WTFMEA are narrated. While concluding, the capabilities of WTFMEA in achieving continuous quality and productivity improvement through global knowledge sharing are enumerated. The limitations of WTFMEA and the ways of overcoming them in future are appraised.

Keywords: web technology; total quality management; TQM; total FMEA; failure mode and effects analysis; TFMEA; WTFMEA; information technology; failure prevention; knowledge sharing; continuous improvement; quality improvement; productivity improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2008.015969

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2008 Vol.3 No.1, pp.106 - 126

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

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