Faalanalyse

Faalanalyse, often translated as failure analysis, is a systematic investigation into the causes of a failure in a component, system, or process, with the aim of determining what happened and preventing recurrence. It is applied across industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, and manufacturing, in both post‑fault investigations and reliability improvement programs. The practice covers a wide range of failures, from minor defects to major outages.

The analysis draws on methods from root cause analysis, reliability engineering, and quality management. Common tools include fault tree analysis, Ishikawa (fishbone) diagrams, the 5 Whys technique, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and structured problem‑solving approaches such as the 8D process. Practical work often involves materials and metallurgical examinations, non‑destructive testing, mechanical testing, and diagnostic data analysis. Data sources can include field failure records, production logs, test results, design documents, and environmental or operating conditions.

A typical faalanalyse workflow includes defining the problem and scope, collecting and assessing data, developing and testing hypotheses about potential causes, identifying the root cause(s), and proposing corrective and preventive actions. The actions may involve design changes, process or material modifications, changes in maintenance or operating procedures, or improved training. Verification steps are used to confirm that the implemented actions prevent recurrence, followed by documentation of findings and lessons learned.

Standards and best practices guide faalanalyse in many organizations, promoting thorough documentation, traceability, and measurable improvements. Limitations include data quality, the difficulty of proving causation in complex systems, and the time and cost required to perform in‑depth investigations. Overall, faalanalyse serves to improve reliability, safety, and performance by addressing the underlying causes of failures.