When is the best time to perform an FME(C)A during a capital project?

Performing a Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FME(C)A) at the beginning of a project is highly advantageous because it allows for the identification and assessment of potential failures in the design and planning stages. This proactive approach helps to mitigate risks before they can manifest in costly ways later in the project's lifecycle. It facilitates the integration of reliability considerations into the design, informs decision-making, and enables the implementation of effective preventive measures early on.

Conducting FME(C)A at this stage allows project teams to prioritize resources and design features based on potential failure impacts, ultimately promoting a more reliable and robust system. Early identification of failure modes and their effects enables teams to evaluate design alternatives, address critical issues, and optimize operational strategies from the outset.

By contrast, performing FME(C)A after installation or during the operational phase may not effectively reduce risks associated with design and planning. It is typically too late to make significant design changes that could enhance reliability, which may lead to increased operational costs and unplanned downtimes.