Foutmodus

Foutmodus, literally Dutch for "failure mode," is a term used in reliability and safety engineering to describe a specific way in which a component or system can fail. It refers to the observable manifestation of a fault and the resulting effect on the system’s performance or safety. Distinguishing between different foutmodi helps engineers understand how failures propagate and which parts of a system are most at risk.

In practice, foutmodus is identified and analyzed within a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). In Dutch contexts this is often called Foutmodus- en effectenanalyse. The analysis documents potential failure modes, their causes, and their effects, and it assesses aspects such as severity, likelihood of occurrence, and detectability. The goal is to prioritize risks and determine preventive or corrective actions to reduce the probability or impact of failures.

Common foutmodi span a broad range of domains. Physical failures include wear, fatigue, fracture, corrosion, or brittle breakage. Electrical or electronic modes might involve short circuits or open circuits. Software-related foutmodi can be bugs or glitches, while human factors failures arise from operator error or improper maintenance. The effects can range from degraded performance and reduced reliability to safety hazards or total loss of function.

Mitigation strategies for foutmodi include design changes for greater robustness, the introduction of redundancy, improved diagnostics and monitoring, preventive maintenance, and clearer operating procedures. The concept is widely used across industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and process industries to improve reliability, safety, and maintainability.