What does failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) aim to achieve?

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a systematic, structured approach used to identify and evaluate potential failure modes within a system or process and assess their potential impacts. The primary goal of FMEA is to proactively identify weaknesses that may lead to failures, allowing organizations to mitigate risks before actual failures occur. This process involves examining each component or process step to determine how it might fail and what effects those failures could have on the overall system performance, safety, and reliability.

By focusing on identifying and assessing potential failure modes, FMEA not only helps in prioritizing risks based on their impact and probability of occurrence but also guides decision-making in design improvements, maintenance planning, and overall risk management strategies. This proactive approach is crucial in enhancing product reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction, making it an integral part of maintenance management and quality control processes.

Thus, the emphasis on identifying potential failure modes and assessing their impacts makes this answer the most aligned with the objectives of FMEA.