Object Oriented Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (OO-FMEA) : Analysis on Cooling System in Hybrid Vehicles

Abstract: Development of fault free systems and their risk assessment, in early phase of development were set in 1950s, which later on used as standardise techniques for safety and reliability issues in products. Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) introduced as one of them and still considers a much reliable technique to identify and mitigate risks in early phase of system designing even though systems become complex now days. This report presents an extension to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), in such a way that it can be applied for safety analysis of complex systems; both for hardware and software development using object oriented approach. A systematic approach for validation and identification of failure modes were used in this method using system architecture; a complete boundary diagram with the behaviour of the system in logical, physical and attribute objects. Behaviour of selected objects were analysed using FMEA methodology with the help of system designing team, where validation and verification processes highlights possibility of redesigning or modifying component. Cabin cooling system for hybrid vehicle is used as a case study for this purpose.