PD 21, Developing Effective Plans.

Unit 7: Assessment

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

Choose a recalled product from the assessment page and complete the following
chart for two possible failure modes and effects. Include both the Failure Mode and
the Cause in the first column. For the criticality index, state the selected severity
and probability levels. (4 points, 2 for each row)
Banned Product:
Failure Mode & Cause
Failure of plastic
cooling fan

Criticality Index =
Remedy
Severity x Probability
Overheating of engine 45 = (9) x (5)
A thermal cutoff could
resulting in fire hazard
be installed
Effect

Breakage in the break Failure of tractor

assembly mounting
brakes resulting in
hardware
safety hazard

24 = (6) x (4)

An emergency
secondary bake or a
handbrake could be
installed

Write a 200 300 word email to your supervisor as follows: (6 points, 1.5
for each point or major topic)
Summarize the findings of your FMEA analysis
Express your views on the ethical responsibility of engineers to the
public
Suggest possible remedies based on your FMEA analysis
What you intend to do if changes are not made to the product
Dear Professor,
Through FMEA analysis I preformed this past week, I have found two notable
flaws in John Deeres lawn tractors. Firstly, and most significantly, the plastic cooling
fan installed in the engine is made of material that is not designed for prolonged
usage, resulting in the fan being susceptible to failure. This could result in
overheating of the engine, which is a fire hazard. Secondly, but also noteworthy, is
the susceptibility of the brake assembly mounting hardware to breakage. The
breakage could lead to tractor brakes to fail unexpectedly during operation, which is
a safety hazard.
Given that both flaws occur during standard tractor operation, they represent
a sizable safety concern. As a professional engineer, I am bound by my
responsibility to act in an ethical manner and protect public welfare. I thus firmly
believe an investigation should be undertaken by our team to remedy these flaws.
Possible remedies I might suggest, based on my FMEA analysis, are the prevention
of engine overheating due to the fan failure by utilizing a thermal cutoff and the

prevention of break-related safety hazards through the installation of an emergency

secondary brake.
I will be happy to meet for discussion about the issue at hand should there be
any concerns about my findings or analysis. I will, however, be required to report
my findings to the Professional Engineers of Ontario body should no action be
undertaken to remedy these flaws.
Sincerely,
Student