Title: Design and development of knowledge managed total failure mode and effects analysis technique

Authors: V. Mohan Sivakumar, S.R. Devadasan, R. Murugesh, R. Maharaja

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore 641 004, Tamilnadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore 641 004, Tamilnadu, India. ' Info Institute of Engineering, Sarkarsamakulam, Coimbatore 641 004, Tamilnadu, India. ' Lakshmi Machine Works Limited, Coimbatore 641 004, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract: This paper reports a research work which was started by adopting a technique called |Total Failure Mode Effects Analysis| (TFMEA). TFMEA facilitates the spontaneous formation of teams to provide solutions so as to prevent the recurrence of failures within the company. However, TFMEA does not facilitate the participation of members from outside the company|s boundary. This is a situation of concern since the modern world experiences the knowledge explosion through the Information Technology infrastructure. In this context, it was decided to integrate the principles of knowledge management with TFMEA technique. Accordingly, a technique called Knowledge Managed Total Failure Mode Effects Analysis (KMTFMEA) was designed. The practical implementation of KMTFMEA was examined in a compressor manufacturing company. Then the knowledge portal of KMTFMEA was developed. Based upon the experience of pursuing this research, a roadmap for successfully implementing KMTFMEA was designed.

Keywords: failure mode and effects analysis; total FMEA; knowledge management; KM; continuous improvement; quality improvement; TFMEA; knowledge portal; compressor manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2008.019758

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2008 Vol.3 No.4, pp.413 - 429

Published online: 29 Jul 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article