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Create an FMEA from Failure Modes

Define failure modes on behavior physical components, establish their causes, effects, and detection methods, then create the FMEA table.

Define a failure mode

  1. Open Physical Architecture > Structure.
  2. Locate the component for which the failure mode is required.
  3. Right-click [Physical Component Extension] below that component.
  4. Select Add Capella Element... > Failure Mode.

Menu for adding a failure mode

  1. Double-click the failure mode.
  2. In Properties, set its Name, Summary, and Label.

Failure mode properties

Define causes and effects

  1. Open the failure mode's Failure Effects and Causes tab.
  2. For relationships within the same layer, use the three-dot buttons to set Local Failure Effects and Local Failure Causes.
  3. For relationships that propagate to or from other layers, set Realising Failure Effects and Realising Failure Causes.

Local and realising failure causes and effects

Define detection methods

  1. Under the relevant physical component, right-click [Physical Component Extension].
  2. Select Add Capella Element... > Detection Method Type.
  3. Name this element for the group of detection methods. It acts as a container.
  4. Right-click the new container.
  5. Select Add Capella Element... > Detection Method Type Literal.
  6. Name the literal for the detection method.
  7. Repeat for every available detection method.

Menu for adding a detection method type

Menu for adding a detection method literal

Create the FMEA table

An FMEA table can be created at system, subsystem, or component level and includes the elements below the selected level.

  1. Open Physical Architecture > Structure.
  2. Right-click the first user-defined element below the default Physical System, or another required analysis level.
  3. Select New Diagram / Table... > [MBSA] Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Menu for creating an FMEA table

Warning

Do not create the table from the root element. A table created from the root does not show the elements.

Add or edit table data

  • To add a physical component, right-click the top table element and select Create Physical Component.
  • To add a failure mode, right-click its parent element and select Create new Failure Mode.
  • Edit supported cells directly, or right-click a failure mode, select Open element, and edit its properties.
  • To enter a failure rate manually, double-click the failure-rate cell and select the pencil icon in the dialog.

Context menu for creating components and failure modes in an FMEA table

Selecting a detection method in the FMEA table

Editing a failure rate with the pencil icon

FMEA table

See the FMEA table reference for column meanings and failure-rate display behavior.