Design failure mode effect analysis (DFMEA)

• US 20040128108A1
• Filed: 12/26/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Marchese, Mario, Imperiale, Francesco, Cutuli, Giuseppe, Lissoni, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

Described is a Design Failure Mode Effect Analysis (DFMEA) Method for analyzing faults and failures in the design phase of electronic apparatus and devices. A data-entry mask is used for recording some information concerning the performed analysis and a portion of the recording form is displayed to a user in an electronic display format. The method provides the following steps: detecting and recording past design problems and their corresponding solutions, by a DFMEA method using the data-entry mask form; associating keywords in a database to each problem, as individual functions; associating data concerning each of the design problems, in the same database, including information concerning past fails occurred in similar applications; detecting major changes and/or innovations, as well as any improved block or part of a new device with respect to other devices, thereby postulating possible new problems introduced by the new device; and recording said new problems and their possible solutions, by said DFMEA method and using the form.

Claims

1. A DFMEA method of analyzing faults and failures in the design of electronic apparatus and devices, wherein an information recording form including a data-entry mask is used for recording some information concerning the performed analysis and in which at least a portion of said recording form is displayed to a user in an electronic display format;

the method comprising at least the following steps;

detecting and recording past design problems and their corresponding solutions, by a DFMEA method using said form;

associating keywords in a database to each said problems as individual functions;

associating data concerning each of said design problems, in the same database, including information concerning past fails occurred in similar applications;

detecting major changes and/or innovations, as well as any improved block or part of a new device with respect to other devices, thereby postulating possible new problems introduced by the new device; and

recording said new problems and their possible solutions, by said DFMEA method and using said form.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising at least three revisions of the DFMEA form correspondingly to maturity stages of said new device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said revisions are performed at the following stages of the working activity:

design;

qualification; and

production—

post-qualification.

4. A Design Failure Mode Effect Analysis Method for analyzing faults and failures in the initial design phase of electronic apparatuses and/or devices, wherein a data-entry mask is used for recording some information concerning the performing analysis and wherein a portion of said data-entry mask is displayed to a user;

further including the following phases;

detecting and recording, using said data-entry mask, past design problems and possible corresponding solutions;

recording a keywords in a database associating each of said problems to a corresponding keyword;

associating data in the same database concerning each of said design problems, including information concerning past failures occurred in similar applications;

detecting major changes and/or innovations of the designed apparatus or device and defining new possible problems introduced by the designed apparatus or device; and

recording said new problems and their possible solutions using said data-entry form.

5. A method according to claim 4, comprising at least three revisions of the DFMEA form correspondingly to maturity stages of said designed apparatus or device.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said revisions are performed at the following stages of the working activity:

design;

qualification; and

production—

post-qualification.

7. A DFMEA form or document device for analyzing faults and failures in the design of electronic apparatus and devices, wherein a data-entry mask is provided to record some information concerning the performed analysis and in which at least a portion of said recording form is displayed to a user in an electronic display format;

and wherein said portion includes at least one pushbutton or link button for connection to a file-associating tool adapted to attach electronic format files concerning the information to be entered through said mask.

8. A DFMEA form or document device according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of recommended actions under he form of text description can be appended to said file.

9. A DFMEA form or document device according to claim 7, wherein at least the following information items may be introduced by said data-entry mask:

personal information;

a revision date;

a status of the project; and

protection levels.

10. A DFMEA form or document device according to claim 7, wherein a search motor allows searching any field of said data-entry mask.