In day-to-day life, a product designer or a product manager needs good methods for an error-free product. For making it possible, there are several methods. One is DFMEA another is PFMEA. The full form of DFMEA is design failure mode and effect analysis. It is mainly focused on problems related to design. Another is PFMEA which is process failure mode and effect analysis. It is used in process analysis.
Both DFMEA and PFMEA come under FMEA (failure mode and effect analysis), which is a type of analysis done for creating an error-free product with a decent design. DFMEA should make up to every assembled part which is used during the designing of a product. And the entire process is accessed by the FMEA method.
DFMEA vs PFMEA
The main difference between DFMEA and PFMEA is that DFMEA is fully related to design issues. It is a method that is used to analyze any error related to the representation of a system or product. On the other hand, PFMEA is completely related to the process with the help of which a product or a system works. It analyzes issues related to the processing.
DFMEA (design failure mode and effect analysis) used as a method for finding errors or mistakes and also for resolving them. It captures all the problems related to design and finds a complete solution for it. It helps a designer to find the correct part which can be used in the construction of a product.
PFMEA is a process failure mode and effect analysis. As the name shows, the process is totally connected to process failure mode analysis. It helps to recognize the root of the failure of the process, and then it resolves the cause. It is an integrated tool for checking all types of possible failures.
Comparison Table Between DFMEA and PFMEA
| Parameters of Comparison | DFMEA | PFMEA |
| Definition | DFMEA is an analysis method that stands for design failure mode and effect analysis. | PFMEA is a process analysis method that stands for process failure mode and effect analysis. |
| Emphasization | It mainly emphasizes product design errors. | It mainly focuses on the process analysis during the product making. |
| Objective | Its main objective is to find out all the errors related to design and consequences related to the issue. | Its main objective is to analyze the process and cover all the possible failures, then resolving them. |
| Method category | It comes under the method of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). | It also comes under the method of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) |
| Key characteristics | Manages output methods and their analysis. | Manages input methods and their analysis. |
What is DFMEA?
DFMEA is a method that is used to analyze the design of a product or system. It analyzes the output process and reports about all the consequences that can occur if non-suitable parts are assembled during the designing of a system or product. It comes under the method of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA).
DFMEA mainly manages the output analysis, which is concerned with the look of the product. It is a method used in product designing which finds the possibility of a design defect or construction defect in an actual implementation of a product. If any type of error is countered, the designers try to resolve the cause through the application of a quick fix.
It collects the important functions in a design and then examines the probable origin of the collapse of a system or product.
What is PFMEA?
PFMEA is an analysis method that stands for process failure mode and effect analysis. This method also comes under the failure mode and effect analysis process. It detects all the possible errors which are done during the processing of a product or system. It is a method used in the product-making process which finds the possibility of a processing defect and its after-effects with the help of a detailed report analysis.
It is an integrated tool used by all types of institutions for checking different types of possible errors that might cause the failure of a system or product, and it also detects the cause of the failure by gathering data. It is initiated or executed before processing any product.
Main Differences Between DFMEA and PFMEA
- DFMEA is fully related to design issues. It is a method that is used to analyze any error related to the representation of a system or product. And PFMEA is completely related to the process with the help of which a product or a system works. It analyzes issues related to the processing.
- DFMEA mainly emphasizes design-related issues of a product, and PFMEA emphasizes the processing of a product.
- PFMEA is initiated or executed before processing any product. And DFMEA is initiated or executed before designing any product or system.
- In DFMEA, risk items may cause a change in both design and processing. In PFMEA, risk items may cause a change only in processing.
- DFMEA reduces the risk of failure in the design process, and PFMEA reduces the risk of failure in the production process by providing a detailed report analysis.
Conclusion
For making an error-free system or a product, different types of analysis are done on them. The two analyses DFMEA and PFMEA, come under the failure mode and effects analysis method (FMEA). These methods are used by institutions for finding and resolving errors related to the processing and designing of a product or a system.
DFMEA is an analysis method that analyzes the output process and reports about all the consequences that can occur if non-suitable parts are assembled during the designing of a system or product. And PFMEA is a process analysis method that stands for process failure mode and effect analysis, and it reports all the issues related to the processing part.
Both are very useful and are initiated or executed before the processing and designing of a new product. They provide a detailed analysis report and helps in reducing the cause of the error in design and processing.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957417409007039
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924013603005429