In this interview, we discuss the challenges and benefits of using dedicated FMEA software in an industrial context. Mr. Eric Jeanne, QSE System Manager at Sames, shares his experience and observations on integrating this methodology into production processes.
Over and above the benefits of using FMEA software, this discussion also looks at the essential criteria for choosing a reliable provider of such a solution. In particular, we'll look at the reasons for choosing the Skill FMEA Pro solution and its key features, highlighting its practicality, ease of use and advanced functionalities.
This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of the issues involved in using FMEA software in an industrial context, highlighting the importance of a technical and expert approach to risk management and continuous quality improvement.
Could you tell us about your position and the challenges you face in terms of FMEA?
"I joined Sames in 2017 with the main mission of setting up an ISO 9001 certifiable quality system common to the company's French sites. As quality system manager, my role has recently been extended to that of QSE system manager, following the achievement of ISO 14 001 environmental and ISO 45 001 health and safety certifications.
My link with FMEA stems from the objective of promoting this methodology within Sames France, in both product and process FMEA, in order to improve product quality. So I developed the use of this methodology at Sames, first by going through a phase of training in the tool, then by applying FMEA with Excel, before deciding to invest in dedicated software to take our approach a step further."
Investing in dedicated FMEA software has many technical and organizational benefits for manufacturers. First and foremost, FMEA software provides centralized, structured management of data relating to product and process FMEA analyses. All information is stored in a single database, ensuring the traceability, consistency and integrity of analyses, thanks to the rigorous links established between the various elements (FMEA, monitoring plans, special characteristics, etc.).
From an operational point of view, FMEA software offers significant productivity gains by automating many time-consuming tasks, such as entering bills of materials, generating standardized documents and rating risks. The generic FMEA functionality, meanwhile, promotes the continuous capitalization of knowledge over the course of projects, ensuring greater consistency and efficiency.
Finally, modern FMEA software greatly facilitates collaborative working, thanks to fine-tuned management of access rights and roles for each participant. They also offer connectors enabling FMEA data to be interfaced with other quality tools such as non-conformance management or SPC/MSP.
Why did you choose to work with Skill Software on your FMEA project?
"We chose Skill Software because of the ease of use of their software in creating an FMEA file and facilitating FMEA meetings. The interface is relatively simple and highly functional, enabling the key FMEA steps to be carried out: identifying defects, defining their effects, finding the causes and implementing preventive actions.
In addition, the software offers advanced features such as the ability to make relevant links between the product FMEA (DFMEA) and the process FMEA (PFMEA), which facilitates consistency of analysis, and the generation of control ranges and monitoring plans.
Another major asset is the technical drawing reading system, which automatically imports bills of materials and critical characteristics. This saves a great deal of time during data entry, compared with other solutions on the market."
Choosing a reliable supplier to develop FMEA software is a strategic decision for any company committed to quality and proactive risk management. A reliable supplier must offer solutions tailored to the specific needs of the industry, while guaranteeing a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
In this sense, modern FMEA solutions must be able to integrate seamlessly with the company's other quality systems (CMMS, SPC, etc.) and business applications (PLM, ERP, etc.) to facilitate use of the tool, promote adoption by teams and ensure smooth implementation of the FMEA methodology. The software publisher must therefore master the challenges of deployment, process customization, authorization management and team training.
In addition to a user-friendly interface, the software's technical quality is a decisive criterion. An expert service provider must offer advanced functionalities enabling the various phases of the FMEA to be carried out successfully, from the identification of faults to the definition of corrective actions. The ability to establish links between product FMEA and process FMEA is essential to ensure the consistency of analyses and facilitate decision-making.
In addition to technical functionalities, the software publisher must also demonstrate real expertise in FMEA methodology (DFMEA, PFMEA, etc.) and risk management. Only those who specialize in this field can offer a pragmatic and compliant solution, with a thorough understanding of best practices, standards (AIAG, VDA, IATF 16949, etc.) and operational issues.
Software reliability and robustness are other important aspects to consider when choosing a service provider. A stable, secure solution guarantees data confidentiality and the continuity of the company's quality approach. The vendor must therefore be financially sound to ensure maintenance, regulatory updates and long-term support.
Can you tell us about the benefits and results of using Skill Software's solution?
"With the help of Skill FMEA Pro software, we have noticed a significant simplification in the realization of generic FMEAs, which allows us to be much more efficient during meetings by considerably reducing their duration.
In addition, Skill Software's after-sales service is responsive and efficient, enabling us to quickly resolve any problems encountered. For example, when we detect a problem with the software, within 48 hours the Skill team has fixed it.
Finally, the software's advanced features, such as the management of links between criteria and the FMEA analysis, as well as the ability to create generic FMEAs, help to improve the quality of our analyses and reinforce our continuous improvement approach."
FMEA software offers advanced collaborative features such as fine-tuned authorization management, modification tracking and approval workflows. In this way, they become genuine productivity tools, uniting the various stakeholders around a single, up-to-date quality repository.
In addition to productivity gains, FMEA software rigorously structures the risk analysis process. The links established between the various elements (FMEA product, process, monitoring plans, etc.) ensure end-to-end consistency and traceability, and reinforce the quality of the analyses carried out. In particular, the generic FMEA functionality enables the creation of enriched models that capitalize on knowledge acquired over the course of projects. These experience libraries make it easy to reuse and share within teams, for greater consistency and efficiency. Thanks to standardized connectors, data from FMEA analyses can be shared seamlessly with the company's other quality applications (CMMS, SPC, non-conformance management, etc.), reinforcing the overall consistency of the quality system.
Another key success factor is the responsiveness of the software publisher's technical support. Any malfunctions or requests for upgrades must be dealt with quickly, so as not to impact team productivity. A resolution time of 48 hours for blocking problems is an appreciable guarantee of service quality.
Which elements of the Skill FMEA Pro solution do you find most beneficial?
"There are two major features that I find particularly advantageous. Firstly, the links established between the criteria and the FMEA analysis make it easy to generate control ranges or monitoring plans. Although we don't use this feature as it is, it greatly facilitates feedback. In the event of a customer problem, we can quickly identify the features to be reworked in relation to the initial FMEA analysis.
Secondly, the management of generic FMEAs brings enormous benefits in terms of knowledge capitalization. Although this feature requires a good command of the tool, once implemented, it enables new specific FMEAs to be created from generic models enriched as projects progress. It's a real time and efficiency saver."
One of the main features of FMEA software is the ability to automatically generate, from the analyses performed, all associated documents such as control ranges, monitoring plans or workstation sheets. This feature ensures not only consistency but also traceability between the FMEA and the various operational documents to be produced. Traceability and data archiving are indispensable functions of FMEA software, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as aeronautics or medical. These solutions offer full historization, enabling all information to be retained.
Another popular feature of dedicated software solutions is generic FMEA management. This enables the creation of enriched analysis models that capitalize on knowledge acquired over the course of projects. These experience libraries constitute an evolving reference base from which new specific FMEAs are built, saving considerable time and efficiency by reducing re-entries. To speed up data entry and make it more reliable, most FMEA software packages feature an "experience network" which dynamically suggests the most relevant failure modes, causes and actions to the user, depending on the context. This dynamic feedback, based on previous analyses, eliminates the need to search through thousands of terms in catalogs, and guarantees greater overall consistency.
In a few words, how would you describe Skill Software and their Skill FMEA Pro solution?
"I'd describe Skill FMEA Pro as a practical, easy-to-use solution, with a pleasant visual interface. Behind this intuitive ergonomics are extremely useful software features for day-to-day FMEA management."
