Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of FMEA?

1. Improved asset reliability and quality

2. Documenting risk and actions taken

3. Guaranteeing that failures never occur

4. Minimizing late changes and associated costs

The correct answer is: Guaranteeing that failures never occur

The selection of "guaranteeing that failures never occur" as the answer highlights a crucial aspect of FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). FMEA is a proactive approach designed to identify potential failure modes of a system, process, or product and assess their impact to prioritize risk management efforts. While FMEA can significantly enhance reliability, improve quality, and reduce the likelihood of failures through risk mitigation strategies, it cannot provide an absolute guarantee that failures will never happen. All systems have inherent uncertainties and vulnerabilities, and FMEA aims to minimize these risks rather than eliminate them entirely. In contrast, the other options reflect actual benefits derived from FMEA. Improved asset reliability and quality result from identifying and addressing potential failure points. Documenting risks and actions taken ensures there is a record of what risks exist and what measures have been implemented. Additionally, minimizing late changes and associated costs is achieved by addressing potential issues early in the design or operational process, thus avoiding more extensive disruptions and costs later on.